HISTOEY AND PHYSIOLOGY. 35 



in their new abode, which is usually the fifth day 

 of their existence as queens, two or three days 

 being passed in captivity, one in the native hive 

 after their liberation, and the fifth in the new 

 dwelling. The ancients seem to have been very 

 solicitous to establish for the bees a character of 

 inviolable chastity : Pliny observes, " Apium enim 

 coitus visus nunquam." And Virgil endeavours 

 to support the same opinion : 



" But of all customs which the bees can boast, 

 'Tis this that claims our admiration most; 

 That none will Hymen's softer joys approve, 

 Nor waste their spirits in luxurious love : 

 But all a long virginity maintain, 

 And bring forth young without a mother's pain." 



It was the opinion of most ancient philosophers 

 that bees derived their origin from the putrid car- 

 cases of animals. Fide Chap. II. Some also have 

 supposed them to proceed from the parts of fruc- 

 tification in flowers. Virgil, borrowing as usual 

 from Aristotle, among the rest: 



" Well might the Bard, on fancy's frolic wing, 

 Bid, from fresh flowers, enascent myriads spring, 

 Raise genial ferment in the slaughter'd steer, 

 And people thence his insect- teeming year ; 

 A fabled race, whom no soft passions move, 

 The smile of duty nor the glance of love." EVANS. 



" To vindicate, in some measure, the character 

 of the insect queen, Mr. Wildman boldly dared 



