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

A STRANGER QUEEN.
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tminterrupted ; they watch over the young,
and perform the whole of their ordinary oc¬
cupations. But, in a few hours, agitation
ensues; all appears a scene of tumult in the
hive. A singular humming is heard; the
bees desert their young and rush over the
surface of the combs with delirious impetuo¬
sity. Then they discover that their queen
is no longer among them. But how do they
ascertain it ? How do the bees on the sur¬
face of one comb discover that the queen is
or is not on the next comb ? It treating of
another characteristic of these insects, you
have yourself. Sir, proposed the same ques¬
tion. I am incapable of answering it in¬
deed ; but I have collected some facts, that
may perhaps facilitate elucidation of the
mystery.
I cannot doubt that the agitation arises
from the workers having lost their queen;
for on restoring her, tranquillity is instantly
regained among them; and, what is very
singular, they recognise her: you must in¬
terpret this expression strictly. Substitution
of another queen is not attended with the
same effect, if she is introduced into the
hive within the first twelve hours after re¬
moval of the reigning one.. Here the agi-