Retrospective Criticism. 151 



Were I asked how it happens that the piping is not heard before the 

 first swarm, I should be at a loss to give a satisfactory reason. There are 

 many facts in the natural history of the bee, as in that of other animals, 

 which we can attest the existence of, without being able to give the ratio 

 quare. This, perhaps, is one of them ; and we are just cutting the knot 

 which we cannot untie, by saying that Nature has so willed it; but of the 

 secret means she employs to induce the old queen to leave her abode, without 

 having recourse to the same violence towards her successors, as these last 

 offer to theirs, even Huber acknowledges we must confess our ignorance. 

 We cannot but perceive, however, how wisely it is provided, that she is not 

 so fiercely disposed ; otherwise the race would ultimately be extinguished. 

 For, be it observed, no opposition would be offered by the workers to such 

 attempts by the old queen. The rudeness and violence with which they 

 oppose the young virgin queens are never offered to the venerable mother of 

 the hive. She reigns supreme, and she is at liberty, if so disposed, to destroy 

 every scion of the royal stock. Nor is this to be regarded as fanciful theory; 

 in certain circumstances it is realised. If, after the eggs have been laid in the 

 royal cells, there is a series of dark or stormy weather, the sensitive old 

 queen declines going forth, and continues snugly at home, while in the mean 

 time the royal larvae are sealed up in their cells, and undergo their meta- 

 morphosis into nymphs; when the innate abhorrence of her rivals, peculiar 

 to the royal blood, bursts forth, and she proceeds, without opposition, to 

 effect the destruction of the whole. 



I have said that the working-bees never oppose the mother of the hive, 

 when bloodily inclined. This is the fact ; but we are not on that account to 

 give them credit for affections akin to those of humanity. It is not from 

 feelings of filial love and regard towards their parent, but upon the utilitarian 

 principle, simply because she is a mother, and, as such, capable of continuing the 

 race. For after the old queen has taken her departure with the first swarm, 

 and one of the younger ones has emerged from her cell, should the latter, 

 as sometimes happens, instead of occupying herself with vain attempts to 

 murder her royal sisters, go quietly abroad in quest of the males, and suc- 

 ceed in her mission, she is received on her return with hearty welcome, and 

 implicit submission on the part of the workers ; her sovereignty acknow- 

 ledged, and her murderous assaults on her rivals witnessed in silence. And, 

 after the deed is completed, the bees forthwith remove the dead bodies, and 

 then resume their ordinary labours with their accustomed industry and 

 despatch. — William Dunbar. Applegarth Manse, Dumfriesshire, January 14. 

 1839. 



List of Fruits in the Suburban Horticulturist. — As it is desirable that the lists 

 of fruits, in your forthcoming Suburban Horticulturist, should be as free from 

 error as possible ; I therefore take the liberty of calling your attention to one 

 or two matters. I lately purchased, from Mr. Lee of Hammersmith, the 

 Pourpree hative peach. He asserts that both he and Mr. Thompson have 

 proved it to be the same as the Grosse mignonne, though these two are, both 

 by you and Lindley, arranged in different classes. 



There is some confusion between the Diapree rouge, Mimms, and Im- 

 perial diadem plums, as may be seen on comparing them in Lindley, the 

 Horticultural Catalogue, and your list in the Encyclopaedia of Gardening. It 

 seems to me, that, in plums (I mean in some of them), down on the shoots is 

 not sufficiently marked to form a specific difference. Why not take notice of 

 the leaves at least, in some varieties which are strikingly different from others ? 

 Also the glands at the foot of the leaves seem worthy of consideration. 



Lindley mentions an apple which, from his description, seems worthy of 

 attention as an autumn fruit, viz. the Pine-apple russet, or Hardingham 

 russet of the Norwich gardens. (See Lindley's Guide, No. 180.) Though 

 an old apple, it is not noticed at all in the Horticultural Catalogue. I was 

 anxious to get a tree of it, but it is not to be had in London. I intend 

 begging of Lee to get me a plant from Norwich. I am sorry nothing decisive 



