74 THE BEE AS AN INSECT. [Ch. i- 



reference to those youngest inhabitants of the hive whose 

 engagements are solely within doors, for these cannot go 

 till their proper time for flying has arrived. Von Ber- 

 lepsch says that all the adult bees which are at home at 

 the time of starting go with the swarm ; and sometimes 

 this results in none but the brood bees being left — or 

 only one-fourth of the population. In preparation for 

 flight, bees commence filling their honey-bags, taking 

 suflScient, it is said, for three days' sustenance. This 

 store is needful, not only for food, but to enable them 

 to commence the secretion of wax and the building of 

 combs in'thejr new domicile. 



On the day of emigration the weather must be fine, 

 warm, and clear, with but little wind stirring ; for the old 

 queen, like a prudent matron, will not venture out unless 

 the day is in every way favourable. Whilst her majesty 

 hesitates, either for the reasons we have mentioned or 

 because the internal arrangements are not sufficiently 

 matured, the bees will often fly about or hang in clusters 

 at the entrance of the hive for two or three days and 

 nights together, all labour meanwhile being apparently 

 suspended. When this cluster is formed in the morning 

 hours, and grows constantly larger in spite of the sun, it 

 may be taken as the sign of a very speedy start. The 

 busy flitting of other bees around this cluster, or their 

 sporting in numbers before the hive, are also reliable 

 signs, and some have included the appearance of drones 

 at ten in the morning. At the last, when the time is 



