he policy of
bees, at considerable length.

In the natural state of hives, several queens from different royal
cells, may sometimes exist at the same moment, and they will remain
either until formation of a swarm or a combat among them decides to
which the throne shall appertain. But excepting this case, there never
can be supernumerary queens; and if an observer wishes to introduce one,
he can accomplish it only by force, that is by opening the hive. In a
word, no queen can insinuate herself into a hive in a natural state,
for the following reasons.

Bees preserve a sufficient guard, day and night, at the entrance of
their habitation. These vigilant centinels examine whatever is
presented; and, as if distrusting their eyes, they touch with the
antennae every individual endeavouring to penetrate the hive, and also
the various substances put within their reach; which affords us an
opportunity of observing that the antennae are certainly the organs of
feeling. If a stranger queen appears, she is instantly seized by the
bees on guard, which prevent her entry by laying hold of her legs or
wings with their teeth, and crowd so closely around her, that she cannot
move. Other bees, from the interior of the hive, gradually come to their
assistance, and confine her still more narrowly, all having their heads
towards the centre where the queen is inclosed; and they remain with
such evident anxiety, eagerness, and attention, that the cluster they
form may be carried about for some time, without their being sensible
of it. A stranger queen, so closely confined and hemmed in, cannot
possibly penetrate the hive. If the bees retain her too long imprisoned,
she perishes. Her death probably ensues from hunger, or the privation of
air; it is undoubted, at least, that she is never stung. We never saw
the bees direct their stings against her, except a single time, and then
it was owing to ourselves. We endeavoured, from compassion for a queen's
situation, to remove her from the center of a cluster; the bees became
enraged; and, in darting out their stings, some struck the queen, and
killed her. It is so certain that the stings were not purposely directed
against her, that several of the workers were themselves killed; and
surely they could not intend destroying one another. Had we not
interfered, they would have been content with confining the queen, and
would not have massacred her.

It was in similar circumstances that M. Riems saw the