The Life of the Bee 
questioning, at their entrance, recognises 
and understands the dialogue that is pass- 
ing between the wandering queen and the 
virgins in prison. 
74 
To the young princesses, however, this 
prolonged reclusion is of material benefit ; 
for when they at last are freed they have 
grown mature and vigorous, and are able 
to fly. But during this period of waiting 
the strength of the first queen has also 
increased, and is sufficient now to enable 
her to face the perils of the voyage. The 
time has arrived, therefore, for the departure 
of the second swarm, or “cast,” with the 
first-born of the queens at its head. No 
sooner has she gone than the workers left 
in the hive will set one of the prisoners 
free; and she will evince the same murder- 
ous desires, send forth the same cries of 
anger, until at last, after three or four 
days, she will leave the hive in her turn, 
at the head of the tertiary swarm; and 
sO in succession, in the case of “swarming 
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