254 HYMENOPTERA. 
trees. Though wild, they are yet pro- 
tected by the laws of the country; and 
people, who rob the nests, or disturb the 
bees, except at the proper and established 
time of year, are severely punished. 
With regard to the economy of the 
domestic bee : when a swarm quits the 
old hive, it is composed of one queen 
bee, of some hundreds of male or drone 
bees, which have no stings, and of se- 
veral thousands of working bees. If the 
queen be taken from among them, the 
swarm falls into confusion, and seems 
not to know how to proceed when de- 
prived of its leader. But if jmother 
queen be given to them they regain their 
composure, and tranquilly follow her 
wherever she flies. 
Lucy. But how can people take the 
queens ? Are not they stung by them ? 
Mother. The queens have stings, but 
they very seldom make use of them, and 
may be handled, if it be gently done, 
with great safety. 
As soon as the bees are lodged in a 
