SOCIALISM AMONG BEES 



turning and not finding us there, had shamefaced group they au unnn 

 Started out in searrh nfnc on^ «,«^ t u„:„ „.. g , - ,lU ll I ,oM 



started out in search of us, and were 

 at that moment scouring the woods. 

 The Indian promised to find them 

 and inform them of our safe arrival, 

 which he did; and it was a very 



their return, while it required tin- 

 remainder of our stay in camp for 

 our bruised and stiffened membei 



heal. Sonic- of us wear s< ars i 

 feet even to this day. 



F¥ 





n r»4 



SOCIALISM AMONG BEES. 



Jas. Wier, Jr., M. D. 



For the purpose of demonstrating 

 the workings of a perfect so- 

 ciety, as found among the lower 

 animals, I will take the honey-bee 

 and its habits. The queen of a 

 community of bees is the foundation 

 stone upon which the whole super- 

 structure of their limited monarchy 

 is reared. Without a queen (I pre- 

 fer the term common mother, but 

 will use the term in general use), 

 there can exist no colony. She is 

 an absolute sine qua non t and around 

 her revolves the entire domestic 

 economy of the hive. She is the 

 center of interest to every member, 

 and the object of their constant and 

 unceasing attention. Even when 

 dead they are loth to give her up, 

 and always pay her royal honors and 

 loving attentions after she is cold in 

 death. They must have a queen, 

 either full grown or in embryo, or 

 they cease to exist. 



A fully organized community of 

 bees is made up of three kinds of 

 individuals: workers or neuters, 

 drones or males, and the queen, or 

 perfect female. There are two kinds 

 of workers, the honey-gatherers and 



wax-workers, and the nurst - B 

 by a systematic course of nun 

 and feeding, have the power ol 

 changing the sex of individuals. No 

 other known animal has this power. 

 If bees are deprived of their qu< 

 and a piece of comb containing 

 young neuters be given them, tl 

 will select I or 2 of these 

 individuals and immediately U 

 a process, the result ol which is, I 

 they are changed into p< 

 males. This they do by building 

 them larger cells and by feeding them 

 on royal jelly, or tin- food which is 

 prepared for the real fema 

 These young neuters must not li 

 over 2 days old. 1 1 more thai 

 hours old the royal jell) 

 be efficacious, and the young 

 become only workers, a trifle lai 

 in size than ordinary. 



Bees, however, seldom i 

 make mistal es. I he) 

 neuters, for this experiment. 

 days old. They proa ed in tl i 

 lowing manner 

 particular grub whi< h th< • 

 transform into a perl 

 The grubs in the cell te» 



