142 Mr. Hunter's Observations on Bees. 
rather an operation arising from necessity, for they would 
seem not naturally to swarm, because if they have an empty 
space to fill, they do not swarm ; therefore by increasing the 
size of the hive, the swarming is prevented. This period is much 
longer in some than in others. For some evenings before they 
come off, is often heard a singular noise, a kind of ring, or 
sound of a small trumpet ; by comparing it with the notes of 
the piano-forte, it seemed to be the same sound with the 
lower A of the treble. 
The swarm commonly consists of three classes ; a female, or 
females,* males, and those commonly called mules, which are 
supposed to be of no sex, and are the labourers ; the whole 
about two quarts in bulk, making about six or seven thousand. 
It is a question that cannot easily be determined, whether this 
old stock sends off entirely young of the same season, and whe- 
ther the whole of their young ones, or only part. As the males 
are entirely bred in the same season, part go off ; but part must 
stay, and most probably it is so with the others. They com- 
monly come off in the heat of the day, often immediately after 
a shower ; who takes the lead I do not know, but should sup- 
pose it was the queen. When one goes off, they all immediately 
follow, and fly about seemingly in great confusion, although 
there is one principle actuating the whole. They soon appear 
to be directed to some fixed place ; such as the branch of a tree 
or bush, the cavities of old trees, holes of houses leading into 
some hollow place ; and whenever the stand is made, they all 
immediately repair to it, till they are all collected. But it would 
seem, in some cases, that they had not fixed upon any resting 
* I have reason to believe that never more than one female comes off with a swarm. 
