Of the Natural Stwarming of Bees. 165 
young princefs comes out of the royal cell. * 
Whereas, before the fecond or third emigra- 
tion takes place, they will fometimes have two 
or three Queens, and as many royal cells, in 
their hive; one of which may be taken to ‘fup- 
ply any bike that needs them. 
_ Often have I feen a young Queen take an 
airing. For inflance, in aa 1790, | had 
a hive that had no Queen in it, but a pregnant 
royal cell, which had been feven days fealed 
up; on which account, I expected that a 
2 7s KQueen 
_ * The Queens are generally bred in {warming time, as may 
be obferved by turning up a hive at that period, when the royal 
cells may be perceived on the edges or fides of the combs, al- 
though fometimes they hang from the middle. Thefe cells are 
of an oblong circular form, of confiderable thicknefs, and in ap- 
pearance rather clumfy. One of them will weigh as much as 
four or five fcore of common cells. When half made, they are 
not unlike the lower part of an acorn, turned upfide down ; they 
gradually lengthen, and, when finifhed and fealed up, are about 
an inch in length, and woyld refemble the end of one’s little 
finger, if it wanted the nail. In {warming time, there will fome- 
- times be from one to fix of thefe royal cells 5; though commonly 
there are not above two orthree. ‘They all hang perpendicu- 
larly, with their open ends pointing downwards. to the ftool. 
After the young Queens are hatched, thefe cells are fometimes 
removed by the bees, and fometimes allowed to remain ; but | ne- 
ver faw an egg laid in an old cell to be a Queen; for the bees 
always build a new cell when they want a young Queen. 
