soon as hatched, sets out in search of the males, and is impregnated, no further emigration will take place, because, being now about to become a mother,—the character to which alone the bees render their homage,—she enters into the full possession of her rights, and is allowed to attack and destroy all the unhatched royal brood. And, further; swarming is equally at an end, when, after the departure of the first colony, the remaining population is too small to keep up a vigilant guard over the royal cells. In that case, as if aware of the impossibility of a second emigration, the bees abandon the watch, and the young Queens, leaving their cells, engage in mutual combat till all are destroyed except one, who reigns undisputed sovereign. But in ordinary circumstances, the agitation of the Queen, abundance of brood, a favourable season, and, perhaps, other causes unknown to us, all lead to farther emigration, and, in populous hives, this may take place three and even four times. The interval between the first and second swarm is from eight to twelve days; it is of a shorter duration between the second and third, and still less between the third and fourth; in fact, when a fourth does take place, it is always on the day following the departure of the third.[1]
It may appear surprising that a hive can swarm so often without being too much weakened. The first swarm is frequently so large that the hive seems altogether deserted, yet, in eight or ten days afterwards, the population is in such abundance as to be able to send forth another colony. But we must remember
- ↑ Feburier, Traité des Abeilles.
