THE MYSTERY OF THE SWARM 193 
swarm its natural existence was brought toa 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 guo. 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 
