THE GOVEENMENT OF A HIVE. 39 



CHAPTEE V. 



THE GOVEENMENT OF A HIVE. 



M. Lamartine once said that " England is a great repub- 

 lic, with, a monarchical frontispiece." Using his language, 

 we say a hive of hees is a great repuhlic, with a monarchi- 

 cal frontispiece. The political system of bees is adrdr- 

 able, and perhaps the best that can be adopted by any 

 country or community of human beings. 



The queen bee is monarch of the hive ; and every hive 

 of bees must have a queen reigning, or in prospect, that is, 

 in embryo. If they have not, their loyalty and activity 

 leave them ; they soon become worthless. The monarchy 

 of a bee-hive is a very limited one ; for the presence 

 of the queen amongst the bees or in the hive is all the 

 authority she wields ; but that is enough to secure the 

 greatest order, contentment, and activity. Deprive a hive 

 of its queen, and we presently find the bees thrown into 

 a state of chaos and commotion, tumultuous to a degree. 

 Let her be restored to them, and there is presently a 

 great calm, and evident tokens of joy and satisfaction. 



The queen is called monarch, but she does not rule and 

 govern. The loee workers are the governors, rulers over both 

 queen and drones. The harmony of a hive is so great and^ 

 unique, that it is but seldom necessary for the bees to exer- 

 cise their great ability, or call into play their mastership. 

 "When queens become old and enfeebled, their governors 



