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 superfeeding 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 
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