In two or three days' time from the leaving of the first swarm perfect order is restored in the hive, and the nurse-bees continue to attend upon the young, carefully watching the queens' cells, and working at the outsides by removing the wax from the surface. It is said that the wax is removed in order to facilitate the exit of the young queen ; but although the removal of it may thus be of service, wo are not inclined to think it is done for that purpose.
The eggs are laid in the royal cells at intervals of at least a day, and it consequently follows that the completion and closing of these cells must take place at different times : we say completion, for at the time the queen lays the eggs the cells are only half formed, and resemble the cup of an acorn. When the cells have been closed about seven days the young queen cuts away with her jaws the part of the silken covering at the mouth of the cell, and if permitted would make her escape ; but the bees guarding the cells solder the covering with some particles of wax, and keep her prisoner about two days, in which time she obtains sufficient strength to be able to fly immediately on quitting her prison. It is difficult to imagine by what means the bees guarding the royal cells can judge of the fitness of the inclosed female for liberation. The most probable conjecture is, that they judge by the quality of the sound emitted by the prisoner at this time. This sound consists of a number of monotonous notes so rapidly repeated as almost to appear one continuous sound. The sound is produced by the vibration of the wings, and probably becomes sharper and more audible as the bee acquires strength.
The young queen upon being liberated immediately approaches the remaining royal cells, and would destroy their contents by tearing them open and mortally wounding her rivals with her sting ; but this isnot permitted, for so long as there is a sufficient number of guards they bite and drive her away. She has the power however of arresting this ill-treatment for awhile by emitting a peculiar sound, which has such an effect on the sentinels that they remain motionless ; and she sometimes takes advantage of this to make an attack upon the royal cells. But as the sound ceases when she moves the charm is dissolved,
her guards recover their power, and she is again driven back.
After a time the young queen, owing to her strong desire to attack the royal cells and the constant repulses she meets with, becomes extremely agitated, and by running quickly over the cells and groups of workers communicates her disorder to a great portion of the bees, so that a large number quit the hive and cluster about the outside, and after a short time the young queen leaves the hive with a swarm. Thus it is that the second swarm is thrown off. It seldom happens that • hive sends off more than two or three swarms; after which, unless the hive be an extremely populous one, there are so few bees left that there Is not a sufficient number to keep proper guard over the royal cells. The young queens consequently make their escape, two or three at a time, in which case a contest takes place between them, and the strongest remains queen of the hive, after destroying all the royal larvae and pupae that remain.
But if the hire be an unusually populous one them may be four or five swarms sent off, all accompanied by the same circumstances as those just related. In case a hive is poorly stocked at the time of the great laying of male eggs no royal cells are built, and consequently no swarms leave. After the swarming a general massacre of the drones takes place : these defenceless individuals (for the malo has no sting) are stung to death by the neuters.
When a swarm quits a hive it usually clusters on a tree or bush in the neighbourhood, and if it be not hived it will shortly leave this situation, and take possession of an old tree or part of an old building. It is said that bees send out scouts before leaving the hive to search for a convenient situation for their new abode, and that they may be seen going backwards and forwards to the spot fixed upon some little time before the swarm departs. The clustering of the swarm probably proceeds from a desire in tho bees to be congregated together prior to their- last flight. As soon as the bees have taken possession of a new abode, or have been hived, they commeuce building the comb.