SWARMING AND HIVING. 149 



tered innocents, and remove them from the cells. Their 

 dead bodies may often be found on the ground in front of the 

 hive. 



When a Queen has emerged in the natural way from her 

 cell, the bees usually nibble away the now useless abode, 

 until only a small acorn cup remains ; but when by violence 

 she has met with an untimely end, they take down entirely 

 the whole of the cell. By counting these acorn-cups, it can 

 be ascertained how many young Queens have hatched in a 

 hive. 



Before the Queens emerge from their cells, a fluttering 

 sound is frequently heard, which is caused by the rapid 

 motion of their wings, and which must not be confounded 

 with the piping notes which will soon be described. If the 

 bees of the parent stock decide to swarm again, the first 

 hatched Queen is prevented from killing the others. A 

 strong guard is kept over their cells, and as often as she 

 approaches them with murderous intent, she is bitten, or 

 otherwise rudely treated, and given to understand by the 

 most uncourtier-like demonstrations, that she cannot, in all 

 things, do just as she pleases. 



When thus repulsed, like men and women who cannot 

 have their own way, she is highly offended and utters an 

 angry sound, given forth in a quick succession of notes, and 

 which sounds not unlike the rapid utterance of the words, 

 " peep, peep." I have frequently, by holding a Queen in 

 the closed hand, caused her to make a similar noise. To 

 this angry note, one or more of the Queens still unhatched, 

 will respond, in a somewhat hoarser key, just as chicken- 

 cocks, by crowing, bid defiance to each other. These 

 sounds are entirely unlike the usual steady hum of the bees, 

 and when heard, are the almost infallible indications that a 

 isecond swarm will soon issue. They are occasionally so 

 13* 



