68 Mr Cron on the Singular Treatment of a Queen Bee • 
They seized her with their pincers by the wings mainly, and 
by the legs, but at times by every part also of the body of 
which any hold could be taken, such as the rings of her belly, 
and the several parts of her head, excepting the antennae, which 
I do not recollect of noticing. At first, they seemed to be ma- 
king towards the hive with their royal captive ; but on being 
once prevented, they never after attempted any movement of this 
kind, though they kept the queen bee in this sort of imprison- 
ment upwards of an hour. It was observable all the while, 
that the swarm in general was not affected by this incident, but 
continued to go by and over the little ball which embraced the 
queen, without bestowing on it the slightest attention. And so 
compactly did these few bees adhere to one another, that it was 
amusing to see strangers, which hopes of plunder, or the un- 
usual commotion, had attracted, entangled frequently in their 
eager grasp, and now and then running off in great alarm with 
queen and bees both, dragging after them the little ball with 
considerable velocity, in one of which adventures, it fell from 
the mouth of the hive upon the ground, a distance of perhaps a 
foot and a half, the little resolute creatures nevertheless retain- 
ing their hold. 
During the exhibition of this curious scene, it was remarked 
that several of the bees, especially on being much disturbed, let 
go their hold, but were instantly succeeded by others quite as 
active and determined. And it was very observable, that when 
any part of the queen bee could be seen, (a thing which seldom 
took place), she appeared to be struggling with much eager- 
ness to get free. It was not often, however, that she had 
liberty enough to move either head, leg, or wing; and as a 
proof that she was held against her inclination, she was heard at 
intervals uttering a shrill cry, something after the manner of what 
is heard before the departure of a second or third swarm, only 
the tone on this occasion was expressive of constraint rather than 
of pain. 
This remarkable spectacle having continued more than an 
hour, there was considerable reason to fear, that so much strug- 
gling on her part, and so great actual exertion on theirs, would 
inevitably prove fatal to the queen bee, and thus cause the 
ruin of the whole swarm. On this account, an attempt was 
