02 'THE SENSES OF BEES. 



ber of her subjects formed in a circle round her, and 

 these of course have been regarded as the Queen's 

 body guards. The truth is, however that her Bee- 

 majesty has no attendants, strictly speaking ; none 

 who follow in her train; but wherever she moves, 

 the workers whom she encounters in her progress 

 instantly and hurriedly clear the way before her, and 

 all turning their heads towards their approaching 

 sovereign, lavish their caresses upon her with much 

 apparent affection, and touch her softly with their 

 antennse ; and these circumstances, which maybe 

 observed every hour in the day, in a properly con- 

 structed glass hive, have given rise to the idea of 

 guards. The moment she has left the circle, the 

 bees who had surrounded her instantly resume their 

 labours, and she passes on, v receiving from every 

 group in her way the homage due to a Mother and a 

 Queen. On one occasion we gave her subjects an 

 opportunity of testifying their courage in her defence 

 as well as their affection and zeal. Observing her 

 aying eggs in the comb next to the glass of the hive, 

 we gently but quickly opened the pane, and endea- 

 voured to seize her. But no sooner did the removal 

 of the glass afford room, (while shut it was almost 

 in contact with her back;) and before we could 

 accomplish our purpose, they threw their bodies 

 upon her to the number of at least a hundred, and 

 formed a cone over her of such magnitude that she 

 could not be less than two inches distant from any 

 Dart of the surface. We dispersed the mass with 

 Dur finger, and got hold of her precious person, and 



