■LOSS OF QUEENS. 
245 
curred, and occasionally at evening, the bees may be 
seen running about in the greatest consternation, out- 
side, to and fro on the sides. Some will fly off a short 
distance and return ; one will run to another, and 
then to another, still in hopes, no doubt, of finding 
their lost sovereign ! A neighboring hive close by, 
on the same bench, will probably receive a portion, 
which will seldom resist an accession under such cir- 
cumstances. All this will be going on while other 
hives are quiet. Towards the middle of the day, this 
confusion will be less marked ; but the next morning 
it will be exhibited again, though not so plainly, and 
cease after the third, when they become apparently 
reconciled to their fate. 
They will continue their labors as usual, bringing in 
pollen and honey. Here I am obliged to differ with 
writers who tell us that all labor will now cease. I 
hope the reader will not be deceived by supposing 
that because the bees are bringing in pollen, that they 
must have a queen ; I can assure you it is not always 
the case. 
THE RESULT. 
The number of bees will gradually decrease, and be 
all gone by the early part of winter, leaving a good 
supply of honey, and an extra quantity of bee-bread, 
as before mentioned, because there has been no young 
brood to consume it. This is the case when a large 
family was left at the time of the loss. When but 
few bees are left, it is very different; the combs are 
unprotected by a covering of bees ; the moth deposits 
