120 



PEKFECT SOCIETIES OF INSECTS. 



dence to prevent the hive from being wholly despoiled of a 

 governor is singularly manifested by a remarkable trait in 

 their instinct, which, when mutual destruction seems in- 

 evitable, makes them separate from each other as if panic- 

 struck. " Two young queens," says M. Huber, if left their 

 cells one day, almost at the same moment ; as soon as they 

 came within sight, they darted upon each other, as if inflamed 

 by the most ungovernable anger, and placed themselves in 

 such an attitude that the antennas of each were held by the 

 jaws of its antagonist ; head was opposed to head, trunk to 

 trunk, abdomen to abdomen; and they had only to bend the 

 extremity of the latter, and they would have fallen reciprocal 

 victims to each other's sting." But nature having decreed 

 that these duels should not be fatal to both combatants, as 

 soon as they were thus circumstanced a panic fear seemed to 

 strike them, and they disengaged themselves, and each fled 

 away. After a few minutes were expired, the attack was 

 renewed in a similar manner with the same issue ; till at last 

 one suddenly seizing the other by her wing, mounted upon 

 her and inflicted a mortal wound. 1 



The combats I have here described to you took place 

 between virgin queens; but M. Huber found that those 

 which had been impregnated were actuated by the same 

 animosity, and attacked royal cells with a fury equally de- 

 structive. When another fertile queen had been introduced 

 into this hive, a singular scene ensued, which proves how 

 well aware the workers are that they cannot prosper with 

 two sovereigns. Soon after she was introduced, a circle of 

 bees was formed round the stranger, — not to compliment her 

 on her arrival, or pay her the usual homage, but to confine 

 her, and prevent her escape ; for they insensibly agglomerated 

 themselves in such numbers round her, and hemmed her in 

 so closely, that in about a minute she was completely a pri- 

 soner. While this was transacting, what was equally re^ 

 markable, other workers assembled in clusters round the 

 legitimate queen, and impeded all her motions ; so that soon 

 she was not more at liberty than the intruder. It seemed as 



i Huber, i. 174. 



