It has been stated that the first swarm is always conducted by an old queen, and the following swarms by the young queens as they are successively hatched. The latter are in a virgin state, but not eo the former, nor do these require farther intercourse with the male. About two or three days after quitting her cell, and the fifth day of her existence in the winged state, the young queen quits the hive, and after reconnoitring its exterior and making herself acquainted with its situation by flying from it and returning several times, she then soars high in tho air, forming spiral circles as she ascends. This ascent is generally preceded by a flight of drones, and it is at this time (whilst on the wing) that the sexual intercourse takes place. The queen is never observed to quit the hive but at this time, and hence it is sup posed that this one intercourse is sufficient to fertilise all the eggs she may ever Lay. Huber decidedly ascertained that it was sufficient for two years. We think it very improbable that a queen would live much beyond that time, In about 46 hours after the intercourse with the male has taken place, at which time a part of the comb would be constructed in the new hive, the queen commences laying her eggs; those first deposited being such as will turn to workers, as before described.
The Consrrut(ien of the Comb.—In the 'Introduction to British Entomology' by Kirby and Spence, after referring to the various accounts of ancient and modern writers on this subject, it ie observed, "Still the construction of the comb of the beo-hive is a miracle which overwhelms our faculties." John Hunter, who was the first to discover the true origin of wax, imagined that the waxen scales (which we shall hereafter mention) bore some proportion to the different parts of the cells in the formation of which they were used, and thus fur nished a guide to their construction. Some naturalists have conjec tured that the antennae, mandibles, and other parts of the body were used to measure the work, and from this they have endeavoured to account for the accuracy of their proceedings. The latter conjecture appears incompatible with instinct, while the well-authenticated mode of proceeding in the construction of the comb throws great doubt on the former.
Upon examination of various combs, the partitions between all the ordinary cells (both at the sides and bottoms) are found to be exactly the same in thickness, and the cells hexagonal with angular bottoms. Exceptions to this general rule are occasionally found, and it is by observing these exceptions with attention—by observing the various modifications of the work under extraordinary circumstances, that some idea of the principles which guide the bee in its operations may be formed. The royal cell is a remarkable exception ; its form we have already described. In the original construction of this cell, a profusion of material is always disposed of, particularly at the junction of the cell with the comb. The extra quantity of wax in this part, and on the surface of the cell (which is also unusually thick) is, however, soon reduced by numerous circular excavations, the depth of which varies according to tlmt of the wax, and in the mass nearest the comb they actually become cells, though in most instances unfit for use. These cells are invariably cylindrical, with
concave bottoms, except they come in contact with others, in which case the wax is always removed from the interstices thus formed, either at the sides or at the bottoms ; and the partitions aro thus reduced to the same thickness as those between the cells constructed in the ordinary way. Hence we frequently find, in these parts, cells with one side circular and the other angular ; the situation of the angles being invariably determined by the position of those cells with which they are in contact.
To work in circles or segment+, of circles appears most compatible with animal mechanism acted upon by instinct, for we observe that the works of almost all insects (perhaps we may say almost all animals) proceed in circles or segments of circles. The cells of almost all the various species of bees are of this construction, and we find that, under peculiar circumstances, those of the hive-bee are so likewise, as in the case of the queen's cell, and in some of those cells close to it, and sometimes in other parts of the comb, in cases where an accident has been repaired.
If some hive-bees could be made to work in a large solid mass of wax, the first cell formed would most probably lie cylindrical, with a hollow circular bottom ; this would also be the form of tho following cells unless they came in contact with each other ; and, in this case, supposing the cir cumferences of three cylinders were to touch, the bees working in each of these cylinders would cut away the wax at a, a, a, (fig. 6). But supposing the wax block were excavated ou one of its Rides, into the greatest number of equal-sized cylinders that it would admit of, it would then follow that each cylinder would ho surrounded by six others, this being the only munber of equal-sized circles which may bo placed round one of the mune magnitude ; by the same rule of removing the wax from the interstices, each of these cylinders would become hexagons. Again, sup posing this block to be a flat mass of equal thickness in all parts (the ordi nary thickness of a comb), this block being cut into cylinders of equal diameter on both sides, and the base of each cylinder being exactly over parts of three opposing ones (as repre sented in fig. 7), when the wax is cut away at the interstices, as at the sides, it follows that the bottoms of the cells will be each composed of three equal rhombus-shaped pieces. Hence we have cells exactly like those of the hive-bee, but not constructed in the ordinary way, though upon such principles as analogy points out (a circular form being the basis of tho work), and in such a way as we have observed, they do occasionally proceed. If we allow that the basis of the work of the hive-bee be circular, the royal cell forms no exception to the general rule, so far as the principle of its con struction is concerned.