Mr Cron on the Sing ular Treatment of a Queen Bee. 67 
slices of the combs, with a view to sweep out, or at any rate 
to frighten the more reluctant. Whether this be the safest or 
most speedy way of expelling bees from their hives, I know 
not; but it seems at all events not a bad method for putting 
them into extreme terror, for they were now seen running at 
intervals wildly up and down, evincing, by their awakened ges- 
tures and tone of hum, strong symptoms of alarm and disorder. 
And I mention this, because 1 am of opinion that it was the oc- 
casion of the incident on account of which these circumstances 
have been recorded. 
During the progress of this transaction, it became of course a 
subject of curiosity to get a sight of the queen bee, and an ob- 
ject of interest and attention to see her make a safe departure. 
For a long while she could not be at all recognised ; but at 
length, on the swarm being almost all expelled, she was seen to 
fall from the hive, a bee or two clinging eagerly by her. She 
fell upon a cloth that was spread upon the ground, and, after 
running for a little time, with the utmost agility and apparent 
strength, was taken up into the hand, a single bee still continu- 
ing to have a firm hold of one of her legs. This one, however, 
now quitted its grasp, and, on the queen being immediately put 
down at the mouth of the hive receiving the swarm, a very 
singular and interesting spectacle was to be seen. In an in- 
stant several bees seized upon her, with a sort of eager violence, 
that was apparently almost indicative of hostility, only their ul- 
timate aim appeared to be merely to lay a sure hold on her, as 
they made no attempt to wound, by the use of their stings. 
This royal guard increased in a moment to the number of a 
dozen or fifteen, it being quite impossible any longer to obtain a 
single glimpse of her majesty, so completely was she encircled in 
the close embraces of these her obtrusive or affectionate assailants. 
Those bees that had got the main hold, clung to her with a sort 
of wild determination; but those that did not consider themselves 
as having so serious a trust, lay clasped together, with counte- 
nances somewhat expressive of satisfaction and contentment, 
forming a little ball, the centre of which was the queen, that 
might be tumbled over without causing them to quit their hold, 
or being productive of any injury. 
e 2 
