130 



PERFECT SOCIETIES OF INSECTS. 



her case, and did not cease to lick her with their tongues till 

 she showed signs of returning animation ; which the bees no 

 sooner perceived, than they set up a general hum, as if for 

 joy at the happy event. All this time they paid no attention 

 to the workers, who were in the same miserable state. 1 



On a former occasion I have mentioned the laying of the 

 eggs by the queen ; but as I did not then at all enlarge upon 

 it, I shall now explain the process more in detail. In a sub- 

 sequent letter I shall notice what has puzzled learned apiarists 

 — her fecundation ; which is now ascertained beyond con- 

 tradiction, from the observations of M. Huber, to take place 

 in the open air, and to be followed by the death of the unfor- 

 tunate male. 2 It is to be recollected that, from September 

 to April, generally speaking, there are no males in the hives ; 

 yet during this period the queen often oviposits : a former 

 fecundation, therefore, must fertilise all the eggs laid in this 

 interval. The impregnation, in order to ensure complete 

 fertility, must not be too long retarded : for, as I before ob- 

 served, if this be delayed beyond the twenty-eighth day of 

 her existence, her ovaries become so vitiated that she can no 

 longer lay eggs that will produce workers, but can only fur- 

 nish the hive with a male population ; which, however high a 

 privilege it may be accounted amongst men, is the reverse of 

 it amongst the bees. When this is the case, the abdomen of 

 the queen becomes so enlarged that she is no longer able to 

 fly 3 ; and, what is remarkable, she loses that instinctive ani- 

 mosity which stimulates the fertile ones to attack their rivals. 4 

 Thus she seems to own that she is not equal to the duties of 

 her station, and can tolerate another to discharge them in 

 her room. When we consider how much virgin queens are 

 slighted by their subjects, we may suppose that nature urges 

 them to take the opportunity of the first warm day, when 

 the males fly forth, to pair with one of them. 



When fecundation has not been retarded, forty-six hours 

 after it has taken place the queen begins to lay eggs that 

 will produce workers, and continues for the subsequent 

 eleven months, more or less, to lay them solely ; and it is 



i Reaum. v. 265. 

 3 Schiracb, 257. 



2 Huber, i. 63 — 

 4 Huber, i. 319—. 



