2i PHYSIOLOGY OF THE THREE CLASSES. 



the egg to the appearance of the perfect insect, is, for the work 

 er, twenty-one days; for the drone, twenty-four; and for the 

 queen, about sixteen days. The cells, in which the workers are 

 reared, are the smallest in size, those for drones nearly one-third 

 larger, and a queen cell still larger and of peculiar forr^ requir* 

 ing as much material for its construction as fifty worker cells. In 

 strong colonies, having plenty of stores, the queen will often de- 

 posit eggs in every month of the year, the least brood being 

 reared between October and January. During this time the 

 brood often occupies a small circle in the centre of the cluster of 

 bees exactly opposite on each side of a comb. Smaller circles 

 are next occupied in the two adjoining combs. The circle of 

 eggs in the first comb is then enlarged, and more added in the 

 othors, continuing to spread to other combs, keeping the distance 

 from the centre or place of beginning to the outside of the circle 

 about equal on all sides. The effect of this is to produce a con- 

 centration and economy of the animal heat for developing the 

 various changes of the brood. On the approach of spring, an 

 increased amount of brood is reared, and as early spring flowers 

 appear the bees go to work in earnest, to provide limpid honey 

 and freshly gathered pollen for the queen and her numerous off- 

 spring. When the fruit trees unfold their pink and snowy blos- 

 soms, rich supplies are garnered by the busy throng of workers. 

 Breeding goes on apace. The latent swarming impulse begins 

 to be felt, and if the weather continues warm and balmy, we soon 

 arrive at the swarming season. 



