Inserts. 3627 



Instance of Bees welcoming a new Queen, as soon as they had discovered the loss of 

 their oivn. — Huber says that he never knew an instance of bees welcoming a stranger 

 queen immediately after a removal of their own, and the discovery of their loss ; Reau- 

 mur however asserted that " should the original queen be removed, and another pre- 

 sented to the bees, this new one will be perfectly well received from the beginning.'' 

 From the following account it will be seen that I have reason to incline to the opinion 

 of the latter naturalist, though doubtless circumstances may occur when a stranger 

 queen would not be so well received. Of all insects bees are perhaps the most impa- 

 tient of strict rules. On the 19th of July last, early in the morning, I took from off 

 one of my swarms of the current season, a box containing several pounds of fine honey- 

 comb. Perceiving, when the bees taken originally in the box had rejoined their com- 

 panions in the old stock, that it seemed to have an over-crowded population, it occurred 

 to me that by simply removing the old stock, and substituting for it an empty box con- 

 taining a little comb, I might tenant it with the surplus population of the before-men- 

 tioned stock, that is, if they would take a prolific young queen, which I had at com- 

 mand. I accordingly removed the full stock and put in its place the untenanted box. 

 Then, after waiting some twenty minutes at the outside, till the bees returning from 

 the field had, on alighting at the spot where their old hive stood, fully perceived their 

 loss, and begun to show signs of disquietude, I quickly brought my young reserve 

 queen, and put her at the entrance. Instantly she was seized hold of menacingly, by 

 several bees, who appeared as if attempting to sting her, but in less than two minutes 

 their menacing attitude was changed into one of respect, and, after gathering round 

 her for a few minutes, the bees en masse drew her into the box, and I saw her no more 

 until the 31st ult., when I caught her again, and found that she had both laid many 

 eggs and reared a good many young bees, while the old removed stock has continued 

 to thrive well, in spite of the large number of bees which left it for the experimental 

 swarm. I may further mention, in evidence that this queen was treated with con- 

 tiued respect inside, as she had been outside the box, that the restlessness of the bees 

 at once ceased, and they reconciled themselves very speedily to their change of abode. 

 — P. V. M. Filleul ; Boss, Herefordshire, September 3, 1 852. 



Note on the Temper of Humble Bees at a certain Season of the Year. — There is a 

 period in the humble bee's life when its nature is most irascible at any interruption or 

 detention from her nest; it is after laying the eggs of the neuters, and when she is anx- 

 iously awaiting their appearance : and doubly painful is the effect of a sting at that 

 time. Afterwards, when her cares are lessened, her temper softens, and she proceeds 

 smoothly on to complete her brood, that is, laying the eggs of the male and female in 

 the cells principally prepared by the neuters. It is at this time that the Apathi may, 

 with safety, insinuate themselves into the nest, so as to perfect Nature's design, that 

 the male and female of the Bombi and Apathi may appear together. The following 

 interesting anecdote of a humble bee, related in a letter from Mr. Murray to Mr. Kirby 

 (Life, p. 406), must have occurred in the irritable stage of her existence: — 



" A few days ago I was greatly amused with a large humble bee and wasp (Vespa 

 vulgaris) : the humble bee actually drowned, vi et armis, the wasp — no doubt for some 

 delinquency. I saw the bee press upon, and hold it under the surface of the water till 

 it was fairly drowned, and then fly off in triumph ; the struggle, you may be sure, was 

 severe. Perhaps the wasp had insinuated itself, an unbidden guest, into the nest of 

 the bee, and the victor adopted this extraordinary mode of dispatching his enemy." — 

 Ed. 



