13 
PHYSIOLOGY OF THE THREE CLASSES. 
the egg to the appearance of the perfect insect, is, for the work- 
er, twenty-one days; for the drone, twenty-four; and for the 
queen, about sixteen days. The cells, in which the workers arc 
reared, are the smallest in size, those for drones nearly one-third 
larger, and a queen cell still larger and of peculiar form, requir- 
ing as much material for its construction as fifty worker cells. In 
strong colonies, having plenty of stores, the queen will often de- 
posit eggs in every month of the year, the least brood being 
reared between October and January. During this time the 
brood often occupies a snrall circle in the centre of the cluster of 
bees exactly opposite on each side of a comb. Smaller circles 
are next occupied in the two adjoining combs. The circle of 
eggs in the first comb is then enlarged, and more added in. the 
others, continuing to spread to other combs, keeping the aistance 
from the centre or place of beginning to the outside of the circle 
about equal on all sides. The effect of this is to produce a con- 
centration and economy of the animal heat for developing the 
various changes of the brood. On the approach of spring, an 
increased amount of brood is reared, and as early spring flowers 
appear the bees go to work in earnest, to provide limpid honey 
and freshly gathered pollen for the queen and her numerous off- 
spring. When the fruit trees unfold their pink and snowy blos- 
soms, rich supplies are garnered by the busy throng of workers. 
Breeding goes on apace. The latent swarming impulse begins 
to be felt, and if the weather continues warm and balmy, we soon 
arrive at the swarming season. 
