THE HONEY-BEE. 
135 
season is to the amateur in Bee-economy, a most in- 
teresting period in the life and operations of these 
extraordinary insects, and affords, perhaps, fully as 
much gratification as any other part of their proceed- 
ings. By the mere practical Bee-master, who looks 
almost exclusively to the return of profit arising from 
their culture, the honey-liarvcst will, of course, he 
regarded as the period of most interest. But by the 
Naturalist, the season of swarming, by bringing into 
view some of the most striking features of their mar- 
vellous instincts, and thus affording additional scope 
for his favourite studies, will ever be hailed with the 
most intense delight. 
We have already observed that the breeding season 
commences about the end of January, or early in Feb-* 
ruary, unless the temperature be unusually severe, 
and continues with constantly increasing progress and 
activity throughout the summer. The addition thus 
made to the population is almost incredible. At the 
beginning of the year, a hive which in the preceding 
October contained no less than 12,000 or 15,000 
inhabitants, will he reduced below as many hund- 
reds ; and yet, by the beginning or middle of June, 
the numbers, provided the Queen be an ordinarily 
fertile one, and the season not unfavourable, will be 
augmented to more than the original amount, exclu- 
sive of an immense quantity of brood in progress of 
incubation. It is not surprising, therefore, that about 
mid-summer, or even before it, there seems a want 
of room in the hive, and a determination on the part 
of the bees to desert their crowded habitation, and 
