PERFECT SOCIETIES OF INSECTS. 



167 



welcome, and a bloody battle is the consequence. Reaumur 

 witnessed one that lasted a whole afternoon, in which many 

 victims fell. In this case the battle is still between individuals, 

 who at one time decide the business within the hive, and at 

 another at some distance without. In the former case the 

 victorious bee flies away, bearing her victim under her body 

 between her legs, sometimes taking a longer and sometimes a 

 shorter flight before she deposits it upon the ground. She 

 then takes her repose near the dead body, standing upon her 

 four anterior legs, and rubbing the two hinder ones against 

 each other. If the battle is not concluded within the hive, 

 the enemy is carried to a little distance, and then despatched. 



This strange fury, however, does not always show itself on 

 this occasion ; for now and then some friendly intercourse 

 seems to take place. Bees from a hive in Mr. Knight's gar- 

 den visited those in that of a cottager a hundred yards distant, 

 considerably later than their usual time of labour, every bee 

 as it arrived appearing to be questioned. On the tenth 

 morning, however, the intercourse ceased, ending in a furious 

 battle. On another occasion, an intimacy took place between 

 two hives of his own, at twice the distance, which ceased on 

 the fifth day. Sometimes he observed that this communication 

 terminated in the union of two swarms : as in one instance, 

 where a swarm had taken possession of a hollow tree 1 , it is 

 probable that the reception of one swarm by another may 

 depend upon their numbers, and the fitness of their station to 

 accommodate them. Thorley witnessed a battle of more than 

 two days' continuance, occasioned by a strange swarm forcing 

 their way into a hive. 2 Two swarms that rise at the same 

 time sometimes fight till great numbers have been destroyed, 

 or one of the queens slain, when both sides cease all their en- 

 mity and unite under the survivor. 3 



i Philos. Trans. 1807, 234. 2 \66. 



3 Thorley, ibid. Comp. Mills On Bees, 63. — The following account of an 

 apiarian battle was copied from the Carlisle Patriot Newspaper : — On Saturday 

 last, in the village of Cargo, a combat of a truly novel description was witnessed. 

 A hive of bees belonging to a professional gentleman of this city swarmed on 

 Thursday last ; after which they were hived in the regular way, and appeared 

 to be doing well. On the Saturday after, a swarm of bees, from some neigh- 

 bouring hive, appeared to be flying over the garden in which the hive above 



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