THE YOUNG QUEENS 149 



habit to lie in wait for the bee at the approach to these 

 galleries, and then, to the number of three, four, five, or 

 often of more, they will leap on her back, and bury them- 

 selves in her hair. Were the struggle of the weak against 

 the strong to take place at this moment there would be no 

 more to be said, and all would pass in accordance with 

 universal law. But, for a reason we know not, their instinct 

 requires, and nature has consequently ordained, that they 

 should hold themselves tranquil so long as they remain on 

 the back of the bee. They patiently bide their time while 

 she visits the flowers and constructs and provisions her cells. 

 But no sooner has an egg been laid than they all spring upon 

 it, and the innocent CoUetes carefully seals down her cell, 

 which she has duly supplied with food, never suspecting that 

 she has at the same time ensured the death of her offspring. 



Scarcely has the cell been closed when the triongulins 

 grouped round the tgg engage in the inevitable and salutary 

 combat of natural selection. The stronger, more agile, will 

 seize its adversary beneath the cuirass, and, raising it aloft, 

 will maintain it for hours in its mandibles until the victim 

 expires. But while this fight is in progress, another of the 

 triongulins, that had either no rival to meet, or already has 

 conquered, takes possession of the egg and bursts it open. 

 The ultimate victor has therefore this fresh enemy to subdue, 

 but the conquest is easy, for the triongulin, deep in the satis- 

 faction of its pre-natal hunger, clings obstinately to the egg, 

 and does not even attempt to defend itself. It is quickly de- 

 spatched, and the other is at last alone, and possessor of the 

 precious egg it has won so well. It eagerly plunges its head 

 into the opening its predecessor had made, and begins the 



