THE GENESIS OF THE QUEEN 113 



the roof, of the inverted cell-cup. In this state it 

 remains about three days, when the larva hatches 

 out, and at once the special treatment accorded to 

 the young queen begins. She is loaded with rich 

 provender from the first moment of her existence, 

 living literally up to the eyes in the white, shining, 

 jelly-like substance that the nurse-bees are con- 

 tinually regurgitating and pouring into the cells. 

 This siiperfeeding process is continued for about 

 five days, when the larva has reached its full 

 growth and the cell its greatest dimensions. The 

 larva then stops feeding to spin itself a silken 

 shroud before changing into the pupa state, and 

 the bees seal up the door of the cell. In its 

 completed state the cell loses its resemblance to 

 an acorn, and is rather to be likened to a fir-cone. 

 In the case of the common workers and drones, 

 the cells are made of pure wax, only the capping 

 being of mingled wax and pollen ; but the queen 

 cell is constructed throughout of this porous 

 material. 



The fully grown queen-bee is ready, and more 

 than anxious to leave her cradle-cell in about 

 fifteen or sixteen days after the laying of the egg. 

 The bees, however, generally give her a first 

 lesson in obedience even at this early point in her 

 career. It is a critical time in the history of the 

 hive, and much thought and care have been 

 bestowed on the complicated business in hand. 

 In the first place, it would never have done to 

 8 



