178 SWARMING. 



while, as I supposed, the old queen was yet present, 

 and had not left the hive (on account of bad weather) ; but 

 a swarm issued soon after. Also, I have observed instan- 

 ces of piping when I supposed the old queen lost, at a time 

 when no swarm had been lead out ; and the colony reared 

 young ones to supply her place. This occurred in or 

 near the swarming season, and one or two issues resulted. 

 One case was three weeks in advance of the season, and 

 the swarm was about half the usual size. When a swarm has 

 been out and returned at the last of the swarming season, 

 it is much more likely to re-issue, than if it depended for 

 a leader on an old queen, that had not been out. Such 

 win often issue later in the season than any others. A few 

 have come out as early after the first swarm, as the fourth 

 or fifth day, but all these are exceptions to the general rule. 



HOW AFTBK-SWAIIJIS ISSUE. 



When after-swarms start, the ai^pearance about the en- 

 trance is altogether difierent from that when first-ones 

 issue, unless there is an unusual number of bees. I have 

 said that for a little time beforehand such were in 

 an apparent tumult, etc. But after-swarms seldom give 

 any such notice. One or more of the yonng queens 

 may sometimes be seen to run out and back several times 

 in a few minutes, in a perfect frenzy, and sometimes fly a 

 short distance and return before the swarm will start. 

 Even after the swarm is in motion she may return and en- 

 ter the hire a moment. The workers seem more re- 

 luctant to leave, than in first swarms, where a mother 

 instead of a sister is leader. No doubt she finds it neces 

 sary to exert herself to induce as many as possible to leave 

 with her. A person watching the issue of a second swarm 

 under these circumstances, for the first 'time, and seeing 

 the queen leave fii-st, would very likely gicess that she did 

 so in all swarms. 



