SWARMING AND HIVING. 
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from the cells. Their dead bodies may often be found on 
the ground in front of the hive. 
When a queen has emerged from her cell in the natural 
way, the bees cut it down (PI. XIV., Fig. 47, c), till only 
a small acorn-cup remains ; but if she met with a violent 
end, they usually remove the whole cell. By counting 
these acorn-cups, we can ascertain how many queens have 
hatched in a hive. 
If the bees of the parent-stock decide to send out a 
second colony, the first hatched queen is prevented from 
killing the others. A strong guard is kept over their 
cells, and as often as she approaches them with murderous 
intent, she is bitten, or given to understand by other most 
uncourtier-like demonstrations, that even a queen cannot, 
in all things, do just as she pleases. 
Like some human beings who cannot have their own 
way, she is highly offended when thus repulsed, and 
utters, in a quick succession of notes, a shrill, angry 
sound, not unlike the rapid utterance of the words, 
“peep, peep.” If held in the closed hand, she will make 
a similar noise. To this angry note, one or more of the 
unhatched queens will respond, in a somewhat hoarser 
key, just as a cock, by crowing, bids defiance to its rivals. 
These sounds, so entirely unlike the usual steady hum of 
the bees, or the fluttering noises of unhatched queens, are 
almost infallible indications that a second swarm will soon 
issue. They are occasionally so loud as to be heard at 
some distance from the hive. About a week after first- 
swarming, the Apiarian should place his ear against the 
hive, in the morning or evening, when the bees are still, 
and if the queens are “ piping,” he will readily recognize 
their peculiar sounds. The young queens are all mature, 
at the latest, in sixteen days from the departure of the 
first swarm, even if it left as soon as the royal cells were 
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