THE HONEY-BEE 61 



cessors. These cells, however, are safely guarded 

 by the workers and seldom does she succeed. If 

 the weather be favourable and if the provision 

 of honey and bee-bread be ample, the workers 

 are also seized with the demon 

 of unrest. Those engaged in 

 collecting nectar and honey cease 

 their labours and remain at 

 home. On a still, warm day in 

 May or June numerous bees 

 may be seen resting and motion- 

 less outside the hive ; these are 

 joined by others, and gradually 

 they all collect together and 

 hang like a beard in front of the 

 hive. More bees attach them- 

 selves to the beard, and then 

 suddenly the whole thing breaks 

 up and the constituent bees pour 



... , . t 01, .-i Swarm of Bees (after 



into the hive and ml them- schajo), from Dr. stad- 



ler's " Biologic der 



selves up with honey as a Biene." 

 provision for their future home. The excite- 

 ment within the hive increases, the noise becomes 

 louder and louder, and then suddenly a vast 

 stream of bees, both workers and drones with 

 their queen, pours out of the mouth of the hive 



FIG. 9. 



