Account of the Queen Bee. | 57 
fore no time was to be loft, to raife a Queen 
bee from one of them; otherwife the eggs 
would all foon produce common bees, and 
then all hopes of future progeny would ceafe 
for ever, and their republic utterly perifh, for 
want of a prolific mother to preferve and per- 
petuate the race.” 
That the bees feemed to have had fome 
fuch reafoning among them, appeared pretty 
evident from their conduct; for about two 
hours after the capture of the Queen, they all 
fell bufily to work, and exerted themfelves a- 
mazingly for two days; fome being employ- 
ed in forming the royal cell, and others in in- 
jecting into it a large quantity of thick whit- 
ifh liquid ftuff, pretty much refembling cream. 
At the end of the 3d day, the royal cell was 
completely formed; and, in the mean time, 
the common cells were fealed up by the other 
bees, who all continued bufily employed. 
On the fifth day, the royal cell was confidera- 
bly enlarged, and I obferved as much of the a- 
forefaid white ftuff in it, as would have half fil- 
led a thimble almoft, with a white maggot lying 
on the top of it. On the feventh day, the bees 
fealed it up, and, on the feventeenth day, the 
young Queen came forth out of her little pa- 
| H b, lece 
