372 PERFECT SOCIETIES OF INSECTS, 
that they have taken steps to repair their loss by filling some of the cells 
with a larger quantity of jelly than is the usual portion of common larye ; 
which, however, is intended, it seems, not for the food of the inhabitant, 
but for a cushion to elevate it, since it is found unconsumed in the cel] 
when the grub has descended into the pyramidal habitation afterwards pre. 
pared for it. 
If, after being removed, their old queen is restored to the hive, they 
instantly recognise her, and pay her the usual attentions; but if a strange 
one be introduced within the first twelve hours after the old one is lost, 
she is kept a close prisoner till she perishes: if twenty-four hours, as [ 
have before hinted, have expired since they lost their queen, and you intro. 
duce a new one, at the moment you set this stranger upon a comb the 
workers that are near her first touch her with their antenne, and then 
pass their proboscis oyer all parts of her body; place is next given to 
others, who salute her in the same manner; all then beat their wings at 
the same time, and range themselves in a circle round their new sovereign, 
A kind of agitation is now communicated to the whole surface of the 
comb, which brings all the bees upon it to see what is going forward, 
This may be called the first shout of the applauding multitude to welcome 
the arrival of their new sovereign. The circle of courtiers increases; they 
vibrate their wings and bodies, but without tumult, as if their sensations 
were very agreeable. When she begins to move, the circle opens to let 
her pass, and all follow her steps. She is received with similar demon- 
strations of loyalty in the other parts of the hive, is soon acknowledzed 
queen by all, and begins to lay eggs. Reaumur put some bees into a hive 
without their queen, and then introduced to them one that he had taken 
when half perished with cold, and kept in a box, in which she had covered 
herself with powder. The bees immediately owned her for their queen, 
employed themselves yery anxiously in cleaning her and warming her, 
sometimes turning her upon her back for this purpose, and then began to 
construct cells in their new habitation.? Even when the bees have got 
young brood, have built or are building royal cells, and are engaged in 
feeding these hopes of their hive, knowing that their great aim is already 
accomplished, they cease all these employments when this intruder comes 
amongst them. 
With regard to the ordinary attention and homage that they pay to their 
sovereigns, the bees do more than respect their queen, says Reaumur; 
they are constantly on the watch to make themselves useful to her, and to 
render her every kind office; they are for ever offering her honey; they 
lick her with their proboscis, and wherever she goes she has a court to 
attend upon her. It may here be observed, that the stimulant which 
excites the bees to these acts of homage is the pregnant state of their 
queen, and her fitness to maintain the population of the hive: all they do 
being with a view to the public good ; for while she remains a virgin she 
is treated with the utmost indifference, which is exchanged, as soon as 
impregnation has taken place, for the above marks of attachment.* ; 
The instinct of the bees, however, does not always enable them to dis- 
tinguish a partially fertile queen from one that is universally so. What 
mean is this; a queen, whose impregnation is retarded beyond the twenty* 
1 Huber, ii. 896. .  ® Reaum, v. 262. 
5 Ibid. v. Pref, xv. 4 Huber, i, 269. 
