and
instead of alighting, darted rapidly away; in a few seconds, the whole
colony were apprised of her presence, flew in a dense cloud to the spot,
and commenced quietly clustering around her. I have often noticed the
surprising rapidity with which bees communicate with each other, while
on the wing. Telegraphic signals are hardly more instantaneous. (See
Chapter on the Loss of the Queen.)

That bees send out scouts to seek a suitable abode, it seems to me, can
admit of no serious question. Swarms have been traced to their new home,
either in their flight directly from their hive, or from the place where
they have clustered; and it is evident, that in such instances, they
have pursued the most direct course. Now such a precision of flight to a
"_terra incognita_," an unknown home, would plainly be impossible, if
some of their number had not previously selected the spot, so as to be
competent to act as guides to the rest. The sight of the bees for
distant objects, is wonderfully acute, and after rising to a sufficient
elevation, they can see the prominent objects in the vicinity of their
intended abode, even although they may be several miles distant. Whether
the bees send out their scouts _before_ or _after_ swarming, may admit
of more question. In cases where the colony flies without alighting, to
its new home, they are unquestionably dispatched before swarming. If
this were their usual course, then we should naturally expect all the
colonies to take the same speedy departure. Or if, for the convenience
of the queen over fatigued by the excitement of swarming, or for any
other reason, they should see fit to cluster, then we should expect that
only a transient tarrying would be allowed. Instead of this, they often
remain until the next day, and instances of a more protracted delay are
not unfrequent. The cases which occur, of bees stopping in their flight,
and clustering again on any convenient object, are not inconsistent with
this view of the subject; for if the weather is hot, and the sun shines
directly upon them, they will often leave before they have found a
suitable habitation; and even when they are on the way to their new
home, the queen being heavy with eggs, and unaccustomed to fly, is
sometimes from weariness, compelled to alight, and her colony clusters
around her. Queens, under such circumstances, sometimes seem unwilling
to entrust themselves again to their wings, and the poor bees attempt to
lay the foun