NATURAL HISTORY OF THE HONEY-BEE. 
47 
immediately on its emergence from the cell, rush to those 
of its sisters, and tear to pieces even the imperfect larvae. 
Hitherto, philosophers have claimed our admiration of na¬ 
ture for her care in preserving and multiplying the species. 
But from these facts, we must now admire her precautions 
in exposing certain individuals to a mortal hazard.’ ” 
The cocoon of the royal larvae is very much stronger 
and coarser than that of the drone or worker,—its texture 
considerably resembling that spun by the silk-worm. The 
young queen dees not ordinarily leave her cell until she is 
quite mature; and as its great size allows the free exercise 
of her wings, she is usually capable of flying as soon as she 
quits it. While still in her cell, she makes the fluttering 
and piping noises so familiar to observant bee-keepers. 
When the eggs of the queen are fully developed, like 
those of the domestic hen, they must be extruded ; but 
some Apiarians believe that she can regulate their devel¬ 
opment so that few or many are produced, according to 
the necessities of the colony. That this is true to a cer¬ 
tain extent, seems highly probable ; for if a queen is taken 
from a feeble colony, her abdomen seldom appears greatly 
distended; and yet if put in a strong one, she speedily be¬ 
comes very prolific. Mr. Wagner says, “ I conceive that 
she has the power of regulating or repressing the develop¬ 
ment of her eggs, so that gradually she can diminish the 
number maturing, and finally cease laying and remain in¬ 
active, as long as circumstances require. The old queen 
appears to qualify herself for accompanying a first swarm 
by repressing* the development of eggs, and as this is done 
at the most genial season of the year, it does not seem to 
be the result of atmospheric influence.” 
It is certain that when the weather is uncongenial, oi 
the colony too feeble to maintain sufficient heat, fewei 
* Huber attributes horroducod s : zo before swarming to a wrong cause. 
