76 
BREEDING. 
food, and no worm to feed upon it. I guessed the bees 
had compounded more than their present necessities 
required, and that they stored it there to have it 
ready, also, that being there all might know it was for 
royalty. 
The taste is said to be “ more pungent” than food 
given to the worker, and the difference in food 
changes the bee from a worker to a queen. I have 
nothing to say against this hypothesis ; it may be so, 
or the young bee being obliged to stand on its head 
may effect it, or both causes combined may effect the 
change. I never tasted this food, or found any test to 
apply. 
The preceding plate represents a piece of comb 
containing all the different cells — those at the 
left hand the size for drones. In the centre arc a few 
that appear sealed over, others nearly covered, others 
the larva in different stages of growth, as well as the 
eggs. Fig. 1 represents a queen’s cell just commenced. 
They are usually started thus far the first season, very 
frequently when the hive is only half or two-thirds 
full. Fig. 2 is a cell sufficiently advanced to receive 
the egg. Fig. 3 one finished, the stage when the first 
swarm leaves. Fig. 4 when a queen has been perfected 
and left. Fig. 5 is a cell where its occupant has been 
destroyed by a rival, and removed by the workers. 
It will be perceived that each finished queen’s cell 
contains as much wax as fifty made for the workers. 
LIABILITY OF BEING DESTROYED. 
In any stage from the egg to maturity these royal 
insects are liable to be destroyed ; — if honey fails from 
