76 BREEDING. 



food, and no worm to feed upon it. I guessed tlie bees 

 had compounded more than their present necessities 

 required, and that they stored it there to have it 

 ready, also, that being there all might know it was for 

 royalty. 



The taste is said to be "more pungent" than food 

 given to the worker, and the difference in food 

 changes the bee from a worker to a queen. I have 

 nothing to say against this hypothesis ; it may be so, 

 or the young bee being obliged to stand on its head 

 may effect it, or both causes combined may effect the 

 change. I never .tasted this food, or found any test to 

 apply. . _ , 



The preceding plate represents a piece of comb 

 containing all the different cells — those at the 

 left hand the size for drones. In the centre are a few 

 that appear sealed over, others nearly covered, others 

 the larva in different stages of growth, as well as the 

 eggs; Fig.'l represents a queen's cell just commenced. 

 They are usually started thus far the first season, very 

 frequently when the hive is only half or two-thirds 

 full. Fig. 2 is a cell sufficiently advanced to receive 

 the egg. Fig. 3 one finished, the stage when the first 

 swarm leaves. Fig. 4 when a queen has been perfected 

 and left. Fig. 5 is a cell where its occupant has been 

 destroyed by a rival, and removed by the workers. 

 It will be perceived that each finished queen's cell 

 contains as much wax as fifty made for the workers. 



LIABILITY OF BEING DESTROYED. 



In any stage from the egg to maturity these royal 

 insects are liable to be destroyed ; — if honey fails from 



