LOSS OF CJUEEXS. 195 



C H A P T E R XII. 



L08S OF QUEENS. 

 If all my readers were keeping bees in the movable- 

 eomb hive, I should have but little to say in this Chapter, 

 but as the box-hive will yet be used, it will be necessary 

 to give directions accordingly. 



WHEN LOST BT SWAKMS. 



Swarms that lose their queens in the first few hours af- 

 ter being hived, generally return to the parent stock ; 

 sometimes unite with some other. If much time has elapsed 

 before the loss, they remain, unless standing on a bench 

 with another. On a separp,te stand, they continue their 

 labor, but a large swarm diminishes rapidly, and seldom 

 fills an ordinary hive. 



DllONE COMB. 



A singular phenomenon attends a swarm that is con- 

 structing combs, without a queen. I have never seen it 

 noticed by any one, and it may not always be the case, but 

 I have so found it in every instance that has come under 

 my notice. That is, four-fifths of the comb is composed 

 of drone- cells; why they thus construct them is a subject 

 for speculation, from which I will endeavor in this instance 

 to refrain.* 



. SPECULATION. 



It has been suggested as a profitable speculation " to 

 hive a large swarm without a queen, and give them a piece 

 of brood-comb containing eggs, to rear one, and as soon 



* Tlie iibove was wrilten 12 years ago. About the same lime, Mr. Langstrotli 

 noticed the same fact, in his work, and it is now pretly generally Ittiown, but nol 

 ycf. explained. 



