The Yale expositor., 1894-12-21
TWO QUEEN BEES.
Tho Remarkable Discovery at an Ex-
hlbltion In Vienna.


Tho Remarkable Discovery at an Tx
hIbltion In Vienna.
A discovery was made and has been
demonstrated at the bee exhibition
held in connection with tho Austrian
horticultural AMI agricultural society
in Vienna, which is the talk
Of the capital and the truth OF
which is vouched for by hundreds AMI
thousands of visitors, besides being
duly attested in writing by thirteen
trustworthy and competent witnesses,
including members of the aristocracy,
scientists and physicians And this
discovery is of nature to overthrow
all other theories about the political
constitution of bees which may play
such prominent part in political and
scientific literature.
Heretofore it wGs looked upon as an
established fact, which could not be
called in question by the most skeptic-
al, that each community of bees was
distinguished by its ultramonarchical
principles and its loyalty to one queen.
The members OF the hive would never
hear of a pretenler, still less OF a
| duumvirate or triumvirate, and any
attempt TO bring about such change
in their political situation would have
brought about revolution. But the
lawful queen herself would not allow
things to 60 TO any such extremes.
The moment rival presented herself,
she would, speaking fguratively, at
tack her tooth and nail, and the duel
would only end in the death of one or
both. 1--WE have changed all that
now" tho Austrian bees seems to say
to their human visitors.
Professor Cater of Simmering, has
exhibited n thriving hive, the mem
bers of which are governed conformity
by two queens. and the bees apparent
y approve the innovation. Nav,
what is still more remarkable, the two
monarchs get along most satisfactorily
and without the slightest friction. Not
only arc there no signs OF rivalry,
jealousy or attempt at those feminine
amenities which are the last resort oil
cultured females of the human race
when compelled to endure the others
society, but the two queen bees are
positively atIectionate-so affectionate
indeed, that one might be tempted
20 suspect that one of the two was 9
king in disguise. If such hypothesi:
were not rendered absolutely untena.
bio by the strongly accumulated
physiological characteristics OF tho
| queen bee.
One of the greatest authorities or
agriculture, DR.. Dzierzon, whose name i.
favorably known throughout the world
in connection with several ingenious
inventions for the comfort Of bees, sat
for hours at a stretch observing the
conduct of the two queens. They ap
proach each other from time to time
without the slightest antipathy, ant
on two or three occasions actually
| caressed each other most tenderly and
then separated quietly and peacefully
followed by their devoted suit. Pro
fessor Cater received the frs
prize for his sensational exhibit
which is attracting crowds TO the bee
show, and the members of the horti.
cultural societies of Vienna are proud
TO think that no such extraordinary
spectacle as this was ever witnessed
or recorded in the history of bees
The document drawn up, signed anC
duly attested, will be preserved in on,
OF the museums of Vienna, and copie,
of it sent to agricultural sccietie
throughout the world.