74 
Should this calculation be made upon bees when 
gorged with honey, it would make a difference probably 
of one-third in weight. The weight of a first new 
swarm, when first thrown off, varies from six to twelve 
pounds, according to the conditions of the combs in the 
parent hive as well as the size of hive, &c. 
The amount of honey to winter a swarm is usually 
one pound of honey to a thousand bees. 
QUEEN OR MOTHER BEE, OR WHAT THE ANCIENTS 
CALLED THE KINO BEE. 
In form she is long and apparently slender, compared 
with the drone, though a trifle larger around the thorax 
than the worker ; is usually of a dark color, except the 
abdomen ; this is lighter. Her wings are short, reach- 
ing but little more than half way back. Her posterior 
is more pointed and has the appearance of curving 
under more than that of the workers. She is rather 
shy ; generally tries to hide away amongst the bees 
and combs whenever exposed to view. She has a sting, 
but never uses it except in combat with a rival queen. 
This singular anomaly in insect life has given rise to 
much speculation and deep study in relation to this 
particular type or class, ( apis meUifica.) Unlike a 
large portion of the insect world, the bee is forced to 
live in groups or families for mutual protection as well 
as for a continuation of the species. Individually, or 
independently of each other, the different bees of a 
colony would soon perish. Like the drone, the queen 
never goes to the fields to gather honey. Her office is 
to lay the eggs, both male and female, to populate the 
hive. Without her the colony must soon perish, yet 
she is as dependent upon the workers as they are upon 
