152 PERFECT SOCIETIES OF INSECTS. 
hive to their queen. She appears to be the very soul of 
all their actions, and the centre of their instincts. When 
they are deprived of her, or of the means of replacing 
her, they lose all their activity, and pursue no longer 
their daily labours. In vain the flowers tempt them 
with their nectar and ambrosial dust: they collect nei- 
ther; they elaborate no wax, and build no cells; they 
scarcely seem to exist; and, indeed, would soon perish, 
were not the means of restoring their monarch put within 
their reach. But, if a small piece of comb containing 
the brood grubs of workers be given to them, all seem 
endued with new life: their instincts revive; they im- 
mediately set about building royal cells; they feed with 
their appropriate food the grubs they have selected, and 
every thing proceeds in the usual routine. Virgil has 
described this attachment of the bees to their sovereign 
with great truth and spirit in the following lines: 
“ Lydian nor Mede so much his king adores, 
Nor those on Nilus’ or Hydaspes’ shores : 
The state united stands while he remains, 
But should he fall, what dire confusion reigns ! 
Their waxen combs and honey, late their joy, 
With grief and rage distracted, they destroy : 
He guards the works, with awe they him surround, 
And crowd about him with triumphant sound ; 
Him frequent on their duteous shoulders bear, 
Bleed, fall, and die for him in glorious war.” 
M. Huber thus describes the consequences of the loss 
of a queen.— When the queen is removed from a hive, 
at first the bees seem not to perceive it, their order and 
tranquillity not being disturbed, and their labours pro- 
