PERFECT SOCIETIES OF INSECTS. 149 
upon the workers, who must constantly detain her a pri- 
soner to prevent her from destroying her rivals, which 
would require the labours and attention of a much larger 
number than are necessary to keep her confined to her 
cell. On this account they never suffer her to come 
forth till she is perfectly fit to take her flight. When at 
length she is permitted to do this, if she approaches the 
other royal cells, the workers on guard seem greatly ir- 
ritated against her, and pull and bite and chase her 
away; and she enjoys tranquillity only while she keeps 
at a distance from them. As her instinct is constantly 
urging her to attack them, this proceeding is frequently 
repeated. Sometimes standing in a particular and com- 
manding attitude, she utters that authoritative sound 
which so much affects the bees; they then all hang down 
their heads and remain motionless; but as soon as it 
ceases, they resume their opposition. At last she be- 
comes violently agitated, and, communicating her agita- 
tion to others, the confusion more and more increases, 
till a swarm leaves the hive, which she either precedes 
or follows. In the same manner the other young queens 
are treated while there are swarms to go forth; but when 
the hive is sufficiently thinned, and it becomes trouble- 
some to guard them in the manner here described, they 
come forth unnoticed, and fight unimpeded till one alone 
remains to fill the deserted throne of the parent hive.— 
You see here the reason why the eggs that produce these 
queens are not laid at the same time, but after some in- 
terval, that they may come forth successively. For did 
they all make their appearance together, it would be a 
