52 THE GLORY OF THE GARDEN 



flesh. This fable was derived probably from 

 swarms of bees having been observed, as in the case 

 of Samson, to take possession of the dried carcasses 

 of these animals; or possibly from the myriads of 

 flies (for often the ignorant do not readily distin- 

 guish flies from bees) generated in the decaying flesh 

 of dead animals. 



This idea is particularly repulsive though, when 

 suggested in connection with such a clean insect 

 as a bee, for they cannot tolerate dirt in any shape 

 or form. Their own hives are kept most scrupulously 

 clean, and often they have been known to attack 

 an unwashed specimen of humanity, who dares to 

 come near their hives smelling of perspiration. 



It is quite true, as Emerson tells us : 



" Aught unsavoury or unclean 

 Hath my insect never seen." 



Another ancient notion with regard to the bees, 

 although more fragrant, was equally absurd — that 

 the bees collect their young from the flowers and 

 foliage of certain plants. The reed and the olive 

 especially, had this virtue of generating infant bees 

 attributed to them. 



Aristotle and Pliny seem to have had quite up- 

 to-date ideas concerning the hive and its inmates, 

 except in their designating the head of the hive 

 to be a king instead of a queen. 



Aristotle tells us that the kings generate both 

 kings and workers, and the latter the drones. 



It is right, he says, that the kings should remain 

 inside the hive, unfettered by any employment, 

 because they are made for the multiplication of the 

 species. Aristotle also tells us that in his time 



