APIS. 
35f 
the first swarm of the fresh season is thrown off. Other 
queens become gradually developed, and other swarms 
similarly accompany them, but each swarm successively 
diminishes in the number of its participating emigrants, 
the last consisting perhaps of not more than two thou¬ 
sand. The order of the hive is speedily restored after 
each swarming convulsion has subsided, until the popula¬ 
tion being sufficiently reduced, the motive to leave is de¬ 
stroyed, and the queen is then permitted to execute her 
murderous onslaught on the hapless young queens, which 
are either still embryonic, or, if developed, have not been 
allowed to leave their cells; but, where they have done 
so, and are still within the hive, her attendants and the 
old queen’s attendants open their ranks, and the furious 
rivals attack each other. The contest is sharp but short, 
the young queen is stung to death, the body is conveyed 
away, and the old queen reigns paramount. Her next 
effort is to destroy the royal brood in their cells ; the 
cells she tears to pieces, the young ones within, where 
developed, may be heard uttering a plaintive cry, whilst 
she sounds a triumphant note as loud as the highest note 
of a flute. Her throne is now free from pretenders, and 
after the expulsion of the drones, which then takes place, 
the entire harmony of the hive is restored for another 
season. The queen meanwhile is growing old, a new 
spring has set in, her stock of eggs is being exhausted, 
and mortality, which afflicts even royalty itself, lays 
her low. Now comes into operation that extraordinary 
faculty possessed by these insects. Her death has taken 
place after she had laid new spring eggs, which are to 
produce a further addition of neuters and a supply of 
drones. The loss of their queen is soon communicated 
to the inhabitants of the hive, confusion ensues, and 
