HISTORY AND PHYSIOLOGY. 31 



of honor which some authors have accorded her, is 

 likely to be reduced to a few menials, whose business 

 it is to prepare her meals and serve them up to her. 

 When she is passing over the brood-comb, apparently 

 searching for the proper cells in which to deposit her 

 eggs, the workers step aside and give her room to 

 proceed with her work ; just as a man who was stand- 

 ing idle would step aside to give room to another to 

 proceed with his work, no homage being done in 

 cither case, nor yet any filial affection shown. 



When I have observed the queen in any other posi- 

 tion than on the brood comb, she would pass over or 

 amongst the workers just as any humble worker 

 might do ; very seldom, indeed, do they get out of 

 her way. She has her peculiar stately, or rather 

 ambling motion, which serves to distinguish her from 

 any other in the hive ; this is doubtless caused by the 

 vast amount of food consumed, and the immense 

 number of eggs elaborated by her when in her great- 

 est fertility, and not from a knowledge of royal blood 

 flowing in her veins. 



The motions of the young queen before she becomes 

 fertile, are but little different from the workers ; she 

 is quite brisk and active, either on foot or on the 

 wing. No notice apparently is taken of her until 

 she becomes fertile (by the workers); this fact has 

 been related by several authors. When she becomes 

 fertile, and enters upon her duties— as I have stated, 

 passing over the brood combs, depositing eggs— the 

 workers simply stepping out of the way, permitting 

 her to proceed with her labors without hindrance; 



