136 THE LIFE OF THE BEE 



Of all the decisions before them there is none that would 

 seem imperative ; nor can man, if content to play the part 

 of spectator only, foretell in the slightest degree which one 

 the bees will adopt. But that the most careful deliberation 

 governs their choice is proved by the fact that we are able 

 to influence, or even to determine it, by, for instance, reduc- 

 ing or enlarging the space we accord them ; or by removing 

 combs full of honey, and setting up in their stead empty 

 combs that are well supplied with workers' cells. 



The question they have to consider is not whether a 

 second or third swarm shall be immediately launched — for in 

 arriving at such a decision they would merely be blindly and 

 thoughtlessly yielding to the caprice or temptation of a favour- 

 able moment — but the instantaneous, unanimous adoption of mea- 

 sures that shall enable them to issue a second swarm, or " cast," 

 three or four days after the birth of the first queen, and a third 

 swarm three days after the departure of the second, with this 

 first queen at their head. It must be admitted, therefore, that we 

 discover here a perfectly reasoned system and mature combina- 

 tion of plans, which extend over a period considerable indeed 

 when compared with the brevity of the bee's existence. 



These measures concern the care of the youthful queens 

 who still lie immured in their waxen prisons. Let us assume 

 that the " spirit of the hive " has pronounced against the 

 despatch of a second swarm. Two courses still remain open. 



