season is to the amateur in Bee-economy, a most interesting period in the life and operations of these extraordinary insects, and affords, perhaps, fully as much gratification as any other part of their proceedings. By the mere practical Bee-master, who looks almost exclusively to the return of profit arising from their culture, the honey-harvest will, of course, be regarded as the period of most interest. But by the Naturalist, the season of swarming, by bringing into view some of the most striking features of their marvellous instincts, and thus affording additional scope for his favourite studies, will ever be hailed with the most intense delight.
We have already observed that the breeding season commences about the end of January, or early in February, unless the temperature be unusually severe, and continues with constantly increasing progress and activity throughout the summer. The addition thus made to the population is almost incredible. At the beginning of the year, a hive which in the preceding October contained no less than 12,000 or 15,000 inhabitants, will be reduced below as many hundreds; and yet, by the beginning or middle of June, the numbers, provided the Queen be an ordinarily fertile one, and the season not unfavourable, will be augmented to more than the original amount, exclusive of an immense quantity of brood in progress of incubation. It is not surprising, therefore, that about mid-summer, or even before it, there seems a want of room in the hive, and a determination on the part of the bees to desert their crowded habitation, and
