NATURAL SWARMING. 197 



ference they would if she had been any other object 

 of a similar size. I now lifted the hive from its 

 stand, set it a little to one side, and put the new 

 hive in which I designed putting the swarm, in its 

 place, still keeping my eye on the motions of the 

 queen, who was running around on the alighting 

 board, where a number of bees remained. In a few 

 minutes the swarm began to return to their old home, 

 as they supposed, having discovered, no doubt, that 

 their queen was not with them ; they immediately 

 commenced entering the new hive, in company with 

 the queen, rejoicing at finding her and a new home 

 at the same time. In a few minutes the swarm 

 had nearly all entered the hive, when I removed 

 it to a new stand and set the old hive back in its 

 place again, when all seemed prosperous and happy. 

 Since that time I have twice had occasion to repeat 

 this experiment, with similar results. From these 

 and other facts which will be noticed in their proper 

 place, I conclude that the queen, although absolutely 

 necessary to the welfare of the swarm, is very far 

 from leading and directing it with that pomp and 

 queenly authority that has been so graphically de- 

 scribed and dwelt upon by some authors ; but on the 

 contrary, facts justify me in believing that in swarm- 

 ing, as in many other things, the queen is governed 

 or prompted to do or not to do certain things, by the 

 common worker bees. This, I am aware, is assuming 

 new ground," and contrary to the opinion of all authors 

 I have consulted ; hence I ask a careful examination 

 upon this point. 

 17* 



