In whatever way the egg for the queen-cell may be furnished by the stock intending to raise a new mother-bee, the first sign of life is always the same—a tiny, white, elongated speck, glued on end to the base, or what must rather be called the roof, of the inverted cell-cup. In this state it remains about three days, when the larva hatches out, and at once the special treatment accorded to the young queen begins. She is loaded with rich provender from the first moment of her existence, living literally up to the eyes in the white, shining, jelly-like substance that the nurse-bees are continually regurgitating and pouring into the cells. This superfeeding process is continued for about five days, when the larva has reached its full growth and the cell its greatest dimensions. The larva then stops feeding to spin itself a silken shroud before changing into the pupa state, and the bees seal up the door of the cell. In its completed state the cell loses its resemblance to an acorn, and is rather to be likened to a fir-cone. In the case of the common workers and drones, the cells are made of pure wax, only the capping being of mingled wax and pollen; but the queen cell is constructed throughout of this porous material. The fully grown queen-bee is ready, and more than anxious to leave her cradle-cell in about fifteen or sixteen days after the laying of the egg. The bees, however, generally give her a first lesson in obedience even at this early point in her career. It is a critical time in the history of the hive, and much thought and care have been bestowed on the complicated business in hand. In the first place, it would never have done to allow the whole future welfare of the colony to depend on a single life alone. Therefore not one queen has been raised, but several. As many as five or six queens may be ready to hatch out in different parts of the brood-nest, and none of them will be permitted to break from her cell until the appointed time arrives. For each the cradle now becomes a prison. A small hole is bored in the cell-wall, through which the impatient captive is fed, pending the day when she is to be allowed her liberty; and close guard and watch is kept over each cell to save it from the violence of the old queen, who is becoming hourly more restless and suspicious.