QUEEN DEVELOPMENT. 2\l 



A point in relation to the behaviour of queen 

 grubs, as differing from that of others, chiefly referring 

 to the facility with which the cell containing the 

 queen nymph can be torn open, here requires careful 

 attention, because it is so generally mis-stated. After 

 the spinning of the cocoon, which in no case extends 

 far down the sides of the cell, the worker or drone 

 larva, as before mentioned, turns and throws up the 

 bowel lining and contents, and casts its skin, which, 

 by the creature's movements within the cell, becomes 

 plastered to the walls, and joins the cocoon near 

 the mouth end. The legs, wings, and advancing 

 male organ or sting — depending on the gender of the 

 grub, and which before could not be seen without 

 treatment — are now fully visible, the name chrysalis, 

 or nymph, being properly applied ; the modelling 

 continues, dimplings are seen, rounded forms become 

 angular, the external skeleton gathers in density and 

 colour, bristles appear ; every organ is advancing, 

 and, ere long, the imprisonment and the darkness 

 are left for the heavenward flight of a new life, 

 which gave to the ancients the name and the type 

 of a resurrection. Huber,"* especially with regard to 

 the structure of the cocoon, fell into errors, from 

 which he drew false deductions that are being still 

 repeated. I give a free translation, in order to 

 condense his meaning, which runs thus: "The worker 

 and drone grubs form complete cocoons — i.e., the latter 

 are closed at both ends, enveloping all the body. The 

 royal grubs, on the contrary, make cocoons which 

 are imperfect, being open at the posterior part, 



#"Nouvelles Observations sur les Abeilles," page 218, vol. i. 



X 



