The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1895-01-02
BEE LIFE.
A Singular Discovery at the Recent
Exhibition Held in Vienna.

! A discovery has been made and has been
| demonstrated at The bee exhibition held In con-
! nectlon with the Austrian Horticultural and
Agricultural Society In Vienna which is the talk
of the capital at the present moment, and the
truth of which is vouched for by hundreds and
thousands Of visitors. besides being duly at
tested in writing by thirteen trustworthy ana
competent Witnesses, including members of the
arlstOcracy, scientists ana physicians. And this
d iscOVery is OF nature TO overthrow all the
theories about the political constitution OF bees
which play such prominent part in political
an scientific literature.
Heretofore 1t was look upon as an estab-
lished fact, which could not be called 10 ques
ton by the most skeptieal, that each COM
munity Of bees was dis ting uisbed by its
ultramon archical principles and its loyalty TO
one queen. The members of the hives would
never hear OF pretender, still less of dunn
Virate or tTiumyrate, and an y attempt TO
bring about such change in their political
system would la We produced a revolution. But
the lawful queen herself would lot allow things
TO 60 10 any sucn extremes. The moment Il
rival presented herself she would, speaking
figuraiively, attack her tooth aud nail, and the
duel would end only in the death Of one or
both.
ave have changed all that now" the
Austrian bees seem 10 say TO their human
visitors. For Professor Cater of Simmerng
has just exhibited thriving hive the members
Of which governed cOnjOlnuy by two
queens, ana the bees apparently approve the
Innovation.
Nay, what is still more remarkable, the two
monarchs get along NEST satisfactorily aud
without the slightest friction. Not only are
there no signs of rivalry, jealousy attempts
at these feminine amenities which are tbe last
resort of cultured females of the human race
when compelled TO endure each others society.
but the TWO queen bees are positively Affection
ate-so atfectiOnate, indeed, that one might be
tempted to suspect that one OF the two was
King IN disguise. II such a hypothesis we're not
rendered absolutely untenable by the strongly
aeeentuated physiological characteristics OF the
queer bee.
One Of the greatest authorities on agriculture.
DR.. DZieTs0n. whose name is favorably known
throughout the world in connection with sew
eral ingenious inventions for The comfort of
the bee, sat for hours at stretch observing
the conduct Of the two queens They ap-
preached each other from time TO time without
the slightest anlpalhy, and on two or three
occasions actually caressed each other most
tenderly, and then separated quietly and peace
fully, followed by their devoted suite. Profess
sor Cater has just received the first prize for
his sensational exhibit, which Is attracting
crowds TO the bee show, and the members of
The agricultural aud horticultural societies of
Vienna are proud 10 think that no such extra
ordinary spectacle as this was ever witnessed
or recorded In the history OF bees. The d0cu-
menJ drawn up, signed, and duly attested Will
be preserved In one OF the museums OF Vienna,
ana copies OF 1t Will be sent to agricultural
societies throughout the world.-Vlenna cor
respondence Of the London Daily Telegraph,