102 TREATISE ON THE 
old queen, and left the young queen in the, 
cell, which came out the next day and took 
possesion of the oldhive. This experiment 
has been so often repeated, and with results 
so uniforn, as to put the fact beyond all 
doubt. Besides, in examining those hives 
in which first swarms have been placed, 
eggs will be found in the cells on the second 
day, which could not have been the case 
had the leader been avirgin queen. ‘The 
reason for the departure of the old queen 
with the first swarm, is to be found in the 
fact, that a plurality of queens cannot exist 
ina hive. Wereno swarm to depart, there- 
fore, until a young queen could put herself 
at the head of it, this plurality must exist for 
a time, and the danger arises of a combat be- 
tween the two sovereigns, and the death of 
one, at least, and probably of the younger 
and weaker, would be the consequence. By 
this means swarming would be prevented al- 
together. A ‘swarm, especially a first one, 
never departs but in fine weather, and at the 
warmest time of the day. The passing of a 
