HISTORY AND PHYSIOLOUY. 49 



trades a little beyond the surrounding surface, pro- 

 ducing an enlargement of the parts, giving her the 

 appearance of being wounded or pressed sufficient to 

 cause the protrusion. On the second day, about three 

 o'clock, I examined the combs, and found eggs in 

 one comb (worker cells), in a circle, the diameter of 

 which was about four inches; they were on both 

 sides of the comb. "With a little more care I could 

 have ascertained nearly the exact time that elapsed 

 between the coition of the queen and depositing of 

 eggs. 



I would suggest this method to my friend, Mr. 

 Quinby, as a solution of the questions he would like 

 to ask, on page 251 of his work. 



Since that time, I have seen three other queens 

 return from their excursions, with the same peculiar 

 appearance, and in every case eggs could be found in 

 the combs within two or three days. On other occa- 

 sions, I have seen queens return to the hive as trim 

 and nice as when they went forth, without any change 

 in their appearance, being unsuccessful, no doubt, in 

 their amours ; no eggs could be found, as in the for- 

 mer cases. From these and other observations, I 

 feel assured that the queen has connection with the 

 drone on the wing, and that by close observation on 

 her return to the hive, her success or failure can be 

 very easily detected, and the time of her laying eggs 

 predicted with great certainty by the apiarian. 



This part of the business can be more readily seen 

 and comprehended, than how the eggs yet unformed 

 are affected by this impregnation. 

 5 



