BUT ONE QUEEN IN A HIVE. 
21 
is apparent to the bees that they must soon colo- 
nize, or “ swarm,” the royal cells are commenced. 
In each of these, at one or two days’ interval, the 
queen deposits a single egg, the rest of her time 
being spent in laying workers’ eggs. 
When laid, the eggs are covered with a gluti- 
nous coat, which causes them to remain a few 
days unchanged in shape and position in the bot- 
tom of the cell. A small white worm is first 
hatched, which, when grown so large as to touch 
the opposite side of the cell, coils itself up like a 
dog or cat going to sleep. Feeding upon the 
rich food provided by the attentive nurses, it 
gradually grows until its two ends touch each 
other and form a perfect ring. Can mothers 
provide for their children better than the bees 
for their infant brood ? 
Caterpillar of the Bee, with its cocoon of silk, which, when expand* 
ed, fills the entire cell, and renders it smooth and soft. 
Only one bee can reign in a hive at a time, 
and so jealous is she of her rights, and so envi- 
