THE ECONOMY OF THE HIVE 17 



cell sealed over by the workers. It then spins 

 itself a fine silken shroud, and lies quiescent there- 

 in for a time, during which important changes 

 take place. The simple grub-like form becomes 

 a creature with a firm outer shell, provided with 

 elaborate organs of flight, sight, scent, and taste, 

 with powerful jaws, strong legs, and a deadly 

 weapon of defence : in fact, one of the most self- 

 reliant beings one could well imagine. 



The change having been completed, this new 

 being eats away the door of its cell and' comes 

 forth to take its place amongst the labourers in 

 the hive. For the first week or so the young 

 worker remains indoors, performing the duties 

 of a nurse to the brood. Afterwards it takes its 

 place, either in the entrance as a sentinel or 

 ventilator, or out in the field foraging. 



The old notion, and one which still fingers in 

 many places, is that all the operations in the hive 

 are performed at the behest of the queen. 

 Nothing in modern investigations has tended to 

 confirm this idea, at any rate, so far as any sentient 

 purpose on her part is concerned. If intelligence 

 is to be judged by the amount of brain, the queen 

 is possessed of less than the workers. Moreover, 

 there is no direct evidence that the queen ever 

 interferes with anything that goes on in the hive. 

 Her function is to lay eggs, and she lays eggs, 

 strictly in proportion to the amount of food that 

 is present or coming in at the moment. If stores 

 2 



