230 SUMMEK. 



a small glass box, where there was room for but ona 

 comb, which allowed me to see all particulars. 



THE MANNER. 



After the first queen was matured, and had left her 

 cell, I caught her within six hours, taking advantage 

 of her younger sisters, which were yet sealed iip, and 

 of course could offer no resistance. She first made an 

 opening that would allow her to reach the abdomen 

 of her competitor (probably this is the most vulner^j 

 ble). As soon as this was sufficiently large to admi,t 

 her body, she thrust it in, inflicting the fatal sting., 

 This was then left for another, that soon shared the, 

 same fate. If quick and spiteful movements are any 

 indications of hatred, it was manifested here very 

 plainly. The bees enlarged the orifice and dragged 

 out the now dead queens. 



Now, if I should say that all queens were dis- 

 patched in this way, merely because I witnessed iti 

 in this case, it would be carrying out the principle I 

 am endeavoring to avoid : that is, judging all c'ases 

 from one or two solitary facts. As it is, it is some- 

 what confirmatory of what some others have said. I 

 will suppose, then, until further evidence contradicts 

 it, that the first perfect queen leaving her cell, makes 

 it her business to destroy all rivals in their cradle, as 

 soon as it is decided that no more swarms shall issue. 

 By keeping grass, weeds, &c., away from about the 

 stock, these dead queens, as they are brought out, 

 may be frequently found- Such as are removed during 



