THE BEE. 107 



ber laid hj a single queen in one season is variously 

 estimated at from 50,000 to 100,000 eggs. 



Let us now suppose the spring to be somewhat 

 advanced, and that in the month of May the queen 

 has deposited about 10,000 to 11,000 worker- and 

 drone-eggs. At this time the workers construct 

 half-a-dozen royal cells, already described, and her 

 Majesty proceeds forthwith to deposit in them the 

 necessary eggs *. 



The usual term of sixteen days having now expired, 

 the guardians of one of the royal cells receive intima- 

 tion, by the movement within, that a new monarch is 

 about to make her appearance, and immediately the 

 intelligence flies from Bee to Bee, and they crowd 

 around the cell in order to welcome the stranger. 

 The queen-mother approaches also, accompanied by 

 her body-guard. 



" Dear me ! how interesting !" we can almost hear 

 you exclaim, reader ; " to welcome the little stranger, 

 no doubt?" 



No, not to welcome her offspring, but, incredibile 

 dictu I with the murderous intention of attacking and 

 slaughtering her as a rival ! 



In this design, however, she is foiled by the workers 

 that have gathered around the royal cell. These cover 

 its entrance, and keep the young queen a close pri- 

 soner; if necessary, blocking up the opening of the 

 cell with wax until the old queen shall have disap- 



* Female ova, be it remembered, which, in hexagonal cells, 

 would have produced workeva. 



