Curiosities & wonders > New observations on the natural history of bees

COMBATS OF QUEENS.
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found just. The German naturalists, Schi-
rach, Hattorf, and Riem, sometimes contra
diet him, indeed, in their memoirs; but I
can maintain that, while combating the opi¬
nions of M. de Reaumur, it is they who are
almost always wrong; of which several in¬
stances might be adduced.
What I shall now proceed to say, will give
me an opportunity of detailing some inter¬
esting facts.
M. de Reaumur observed, that when any
supernumerary queen was either produced
in a hive, or came into it, one of the two
soon perished. He has not actually wit¬
nessed the combat in which she falls, but
he conjectures there is a mutual attack, and
that the empire remains with the strongest
or the most fortunate. Schirach, on the other
hand, and after him Riem, thinks that the
working bees assail the stranger, and sting
her to death. I cannot comprehend by
what means they wrere able to make this ob¬
servation. Having used none except very
thick hives, containing several rows of combs,
they eould at most see nothing but the com¬
mencement of hostilities. While the com¬
bat lasts, the bees move with great rapidity;
they fly on all sides; and, gliding between