§xi.] RATIONALE OF SWARMING. 73 



cells, thus putting matters straight for the after govern- 

 ment and progress of the hive. The queen, nolens volens, 

 falls in with the general resolution, and makes off with 

 the swarm on the first pleasant day after one of these 

 cells has been sealed over, that is to say, some six or 

 seven days before her first rival is likely to emerge. If 

 delayed by the weather till within two days of the hatch- 

 ing of this, the bees usually destroy all the princesses, and 

 either start fresh cells or give up swarming altogether for 

 the season. It is now a well-established fact that the 

 old queen goes forth with the first swarm, and thus the 

 sovereignty of the old hive devolves upon a young queen. 

 Dzierzon, however, once met with a case in which the 

 old queen refused to stir, and three strong swarms were 

 led forth by young princesses in the course of five days. 

 By the bye, it should be added that swarms are never 

 " led " forth except by young queens, in the sense of 

 having these at their head ; fruitful mothers usually follow 

 in the midst. 



As soon as the swarm builds combs in its new abode, 

 the emigrant queen begins laying eggs in the cells, and 

 thereby speedily multiplies the labourers of the new 

 colony. Although there is now amongst apiarians no 

 doubt that the old queen quits her home, there is no rule 

 as to the composition of the swarm : old and young. alike 

 depart. Some show unmistakable signs of age by their 

 ragged wings, others their extreme youth by their lighter 

 colour. We do not, however, use the term " young " in 



