304 THE INSECT WORLD. 
upon which the hive is placed, or upon the hive itself. Crowds of 
bees may be seen heaped up on each other outside, only waiting 
for the signal of departure. But the least equivocal of all the 
signs, that which points out the event for the very day, says 
Réaumur, is when the bees of a hive do not go into the country 
in as great a number as usual, although the weather may be 
favourable and seem to invite them to do so. “ There is no sign,” 
says Réaumur, “ which points out so surely that a swarm is pre- 
paring to take flight, as when in the morning, at those hours 
when the sun shines, and when the weather is favourable for 
work, the bees go out in a small number from a hive from which 
they went out in great quantities on the preceding days, and 
bring back only a little rough wax. The fact of their acting in 
this manner seems to force us to concede to bees more intelligence 
and foresight than many people are inclined to allowthat they 
possess; at any rate, it is exceedingly puzzling to those who 
wish to explain all their actions by saying that they are purely 
mechanical. Does it not seem proved that from the morning 
all the inhabitants of a hive have been informed of the project 
which will be executed not before noon, or, perhaps, not for some 
hourshatten at) aien yc lie. There is a well-known story of an old 
grenadier who, being comfortably asleep while his comrades were 
pitching their tents, answered to his general, M. de Turenne, when 
questioned on the subject, ‘that he knew very well that the army 
would not remain long in the camp they were pitching.’ 
«‘ All our bees, or nearly all, seemed to have foreseen the move 
that their queen was about to make, as that old soldier had fore- 
seen the general’s order to his army.’’* 
In a hive which is going to “cast,’’ as it is called in technical 
phraseology, there is often heard, in the evening, and even during 
the night, a peculiar humming. All seems to be in agitation. 
Sometimes, to hear the noise, it will be necessary to bring your ear 
close to the hive ; you then will hear nothing but clear and sharp 
sounds, which seem to be produced by the flapping of the wings of 
one single bee. ‘‘ Those who know better than I do the language 
of bees,” says Réaumur, “have told marvels of these sounds. 
They pretend that it is the new queen that makes this noise ; 
* “ Mémoires pour servir 41’ Histoire des Insectes,’’ tome v., p. 611. 
