2GG HYMENOFTERA. 
great number of drones and labourers, 
rears six or eigbt young queens. In four 
or five days after a queen is hatched, she 
quits the parent hive, and is followed by 
all the bees, that exceed the number 
sufficient for the hive. Sometimes two 
queens fly off at the same time : on such 
occasions fierce battles take place be- 
tween the two parties, and the con- 
test lasts till one queen is killed, when 
the bees immediately follow the sur- 
vivor. At other times the two queens 
fight a single combat, and the swarm 
obeys the conqueror : but should both 
queens be killed, a skilful manager of 
these insects procures another yonng 
queen from the parent hive ; round her 
the bees quickly collect, and again return 
to their peaceable habits. 
Lucy, I think, mamma, that who- 
ever searches among them for a queen 
must have great courage. 
Mother. Or rather gentleness and 
calmness. The person must be careful 
not to breathe upon the bees. They 
