THE MYSTERY OF THE SWARM 193 



swarm its natural existence was brought to a close, 

 much as we see it happen in wasp-life. 



It is during the quiet nights, after the issue of a 

 swarm, that the peculiar shrill voice of the queen 

 is most frequently heard. As she strives with the 

 guards that surround the cells of the other young 

 queens as yet unliberated, she continually utters 

 this quick piping cry, and is immediately answered 

 by the smothered cries of the imprisoned ones, 

 who are just as anxious as she for the fray. If 

 the swarming-fever is not yet allayed in the hive, 

 this war-cry is bandied to and fro unceasingly ; 

 and the general ferment deepens, until, the con- 

 dition of things having seemingly grown intoler- 

 able, the young queen rushes out, followed by the 

 greater number of the bees. In the case of after- 

 swarms, the concensus of evidence is in favour of 

 the belief that the queen is really the leader of the 

 party, although here again no positive rule is 

 observed. 



It may happen, however, that the stock is sick 

 of all the turbulence and unrest that have so long 

 beset it, and that the general desire is to restore 

 the status quo. Under these conditions the sounds 

 from the hive may have a very different quality 

 and meaning. The queen still sends forth her 

 shrill challenge, but now her cry is immediately 

 followed by a curious hissing sound from the bees. 

 It is exactly as if they were shouting her down, 

 compelling her to silence by their own uproar; 

 13 



