KATUEAL HISTORY OF THE HONET-BBE. 47 



immediately on its emergence from the cell, rush to those 

 of its sisters, and tear to pieces even the imperfect larvae. 

 Hitherto, philosophers have claimed our admiration of na- 

 ture for her care in preserving and multiplying the species. 

 But from these facts, we must now admire her precautions 

 in exposing certain individuals to a mortal hazard.' " 



The cocoon of the royal larv'se is very much stronger 

 and coarser than that of the drone or worker, — its texture 

 considerably resembling that spun by the silk-worm. The 

 young queen does not ordinarily leave her cell until she is 

 quite mature ; and as its great size allows the free exercise 

 of her wings, she is usually capable of flying as soon as she 

 quits it. While still in her cell, she makes the fluttering 

 and piping noises so familiar to observant bee-keepers. 



When the eggs of the queen are fully developed, like 

 those of the domestic hen, they must be extruded ; but 

 some Apiarians believe that she can regulate their devel- 

 opment so that few or many are produced, according to 

 the necessities of the colony. That this is true to a cer- 

 tain extent, seems highly probable ; for if a queen is taken 

 from a feeble colony, her abdomen seldom appears greatly 

 distended; and yet if put in a strong one, she speedily be- 

 comes very prolific. Mr. Wagner says, " I conceive that 

 she has the power of regulating or repressing the develop- 

 ment of her eggs, so that gradually she can diminish the 

 number maturing, and finally cease laying and remain in- 

 active, as long as circumstances require. The old queen 

 appears to qualify herself for accompanying a first swarm 

 by repressing* the development of eggs, and as this is done 

 at the most genial season of the year, it does not seem to 

 be the result of atmospheric influence." 



It is certain that when the weather is uncongenial, or 

 the colony too feeble to maintain sufficient heat, fewer 



* Huber attributes her reduced size before swarming to a wrong cause. 



