AETIFICIAL SWAEMING. 129 



the bees do not run so fast. If tlie queen does not go 

 with the swarm, all the bees ■will return within the space 

 of an hour to the old hive. Farther than loss of time, no 

 harm has been done. A second effort wUl have to be 

 made. 



" When we fall we aye rise up again, 

 And so will we yet." 



It is but rare indeed that the queen does not go with the 

 bees on being first drummed up. 



But in artificial swarming, the old or mother hives are 

 deprived of their queens, and, generally speaking, have 

 no eggs set in royal cells. They are therefore without 

 the appearance or prospect of successors to their thrones. 

 What happens ? The bees, on discovering their loss, are 

 thrown into a Kttle consternation, which is of short dura- 

 tion. Some few bees will now and then come out of 

 their hives, run about the front of them, and go in and 

 tell the rest she is not outside. When fully convinced 

 that she is gone for good, they commence to prepare royal 

 cells for the reception of eggs — common worker-eggs — • 

 ficom which they raise queens. Often they let the eggs 

 selected for queens remain where they find them, but so 

 alter the size and shape of the cells containing them, that 

 they become at once royal cells. 



ISo fears need be entertained as to the abihty of the 

 bees making queens for themselves. They never fail to 

 raise queens, if the hives have left in them sufiieient bees 

 to cover their combs thinly. Well, these eggs placed iu 

 royal cells, or otherwise royal cells buUt around them, 

 become perfect princesses ia fourteen days, when the pip- 

 ing and barking begin, which we explained in a former 

 chapter. After three nights' piping, second swarms may , 

 be expected, if the weather be at all favourable for swarm- 

 ing. And second swarms are less particular than first 



