Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1829-05-12

to queens, only one in its perfect state
can exist in a swarm; a plurality seems
equally adverse to the intention Of nature,
as total defect. Hence it follows, that
of two coming al the same time into ex.
istence, one must die for the welfare Of
the community. Nature has therefore in-
spired queens with the most deadly ami
mostly, and the most Unsuitable thirst fof
each others life, which nothing but death
can appease. Mr.. Huber relates the fol-
lowing remarkable combat Of queens. In
one Of his hives fittest for observation, two
young queens left their cells almost at the
same moment. Whenever they observed
each other, they rushed together apparent4
ly with great fury, and came into such a
position, that the antenn@ were mutually
seized by their fangs. The head, breast
and belly Of the one were opposed to the
head breast, and belly Of the other. The
extremity Of their bodies had only to be
curved, that they might herecinSoeallf
pierced with the stings, and 81, 3e1&
| together. But nature has HiAl
the duel; when in the condition now de-
scribed, they separate, and retreat with
the utmost precipitation and when these
rivals felt their extremities about to meet,
they disengage themselves, and each fled
away. A few minutes after separating,
however, their mutual terrour ceased, and
they again began to seek each other. ImA
mediately on coming in sight, they again
rushed together, seized one another, and
resumed exactly their former position.
The result of this encounter was the
same. When their bellies approached,
they hastily disengaged themselves, and
precipitately retreated. During all this
time, the workers were in great agitation |;
and the tumult seemed to increase, when
the adversares separated. Twice they
interrupted the flight of the queens, SEIZE
ed their limbs, and retained them PRISON.
ers about minute. At last, that queen
which was either the strongest or most
enraged darted on her rival at moment
when unperceived, and with her fangs,
took hold Of the origin of her wing, then
rising above her, she curved her own
body, and inflicted mortal wound. She
withdrew her own sting, and likewise
quilted her hold Of the wing she had seiz-
ed the vanquished queen fell down;
dragged herself languidly along and her
strength declining, she soon EXPIRED
Another experiment, equally interesting,
on the mutual antipathy of queens, eluci-
dates the instinct Of the common bees |;
and seems to prove, that they are aware
of the necessity of such combats having q
fatal issue. Mr.. Huber having painted
the thorax OF queen, on purpose that
she might recognized; introduced her
into hive, already provided with natu-
raj queen. A circle of bees quickly form4
: ed around the stranger, bnt not to caress.
or receive her with that grateful homage
which queen is wont to experiences; on
the contrary, they insensbly accumulated
to such a degree, and encompassed her
so closely, that scarcely a minute had
elapsed, before shelost her liberty By a
remarkable concurrence, the workers at
the same time collected around the reign.
ing queen, and restrained all her motions.
she was instantly confined like the stran.
ger. But as if the bees anticipated the
combat in which these queens were about
to engage, and were impatient to witness
its issue, they retained them prisoners,
4 only when preparing to withdraw from
each other, and if one less restrained,
seemed DESTROYS of approaching her rival,
all the bees clustering together gave way,
TO allow her full liberty for the attack /;
then, if the queens testified disposition
to fly, the bees returned to enclose them.
That the bees take a decided part in such
combats is indubitable. The cluster of
bees that here surrounded the reigninr
queen, having permitted her some freea
dom, she appeared to advance towards
that part of the comb on which her rival
stood. All the bees receded before her /:
the multitude of workers between the adj
versaries gradually dispersed, until only
two remained; these also removed. and
allowed the queens to come in sight. AZ
this moment the reigning queen rushed
on the stranger, and fixing her against the
comb, mortally pierced her body with the
sting. The antipathy manifested by
queens, is otlimited to their perfect state,
for it extends to nymphs yet in the cells.
The future existence of a rival, which
may dispute her place in the hive. seems
to excite apprehension in the queen, al
ready come to maturity. The Oldest
queen in the hive, containing five or six
royal cells, having undergone her ulti.
mate metamorphosis, fastened, within ten
minutes after escaping from her confine-
ment, to visit the cells of the rest still re-
naming closed. She furiously attacked
that nearest to her, and by dint Of labour,
succeeded in opening the top then she
began tearing the covering, but her efforts
being probably inadequate to her purpose,
1 she sought the other end of the cell,
where she effected large aperture.
When of sufficient size, she endeavoured
4 20 infvnI.co has, boll,, r.