OR, MANUAI, OF THE APIARY. 169 



This piping- sounds like " peep," " peep," is shrill and clear, 

 and can be plainly heard by placing' the ear to the hive, nor 

 would it be mistaken. This sound is Landois' true voice, as it 

 is made even in the cell, and also by a queen whose wings are 

 cut off. Cheshire thinks this sound is made by friction of the 

 segments, one upon the other, as the queefl moves them. The 

 newly hatched queen pipes in seven or eight hours after com- 

 ing from the cell. She always pipes if a swarm is to issue, 

 and if she pipes a second swarm will go unless weather or man 

 interferes. The second swarm usually goes in from thirty-five 

 to forty-five hours after the piping is heard. This piping of 

 the liberated queen is followed by a lower, hoarser note, made 

 by a queen still within the cell. The queen outside makes a 

 longer note followed by several shorter ones ; the enclosed 

 queens repeat tones of equal length. This piping is best heard 

 by placing the ear to the hive in the evening or early morning. 

 If heard, we may surely expect a 'swarm the next day but one 

 following, unless the weather be too unpleasant. 



Some have supposed that the cry of the liberated queen 

 was that of hate, while that by the queen still imprisoned was 

 either enmity or fear. Never will an after-swarm leave, unless 

 preceded by this peculiar note. Queens occasionally pipe at 

 other times, even in a cage. This is probably a note of alarm, 

 as the attendant bees are always aroused by it. 



At successive periods of one or two days, though the third 

 swarm usually goes two days after the second, one, two, or 

 even three more swarms may issue from the old home. Mr. 

 L/angstroth knew five after-swarms to issue, and others have 

 repprted eight and ten. The cells are usually guarded by the 

 workeifs in •^U such cases against the destruction of the queen. 

 These last swarms, all after the first, will each be heralded by 

 the piping of the queen. They will be less particular as to the 

 time of day when they issue, as they have been known to leave 

 before sunrise, and even after sunset. The well-known api- 

 arist, Mr. A. F. Moon, once knew a second swarm to issue by 

 moonlight. They will, as a rule, cluster further from the hive. 

 The after-swarms are accompanied by the queen, and in case 

 swarming is delayed, may be attended by a plurality of queens. 

 I have counted five queens in a second swarm. Berlepsch and 



