The Life of the Bee 



in the darkness ; and no sooner is the 

 first row of dwellings complete than she 

 takes possession with her escort of coun- 

 sellors, guardians, or servants for we 

 know not whether she lead or be led, be 

 venerated or supervised. When the spot 

 has been reached that she, or her urgent 

 advisers, may regard as favourable, she 

 arches her back, bends forward, and intro- 

 duces the extremity of her long spindle- 

 shaped abdomen into one of the cells ; the 

 little eager heads of her escort meanwhile 

 forming a passionate circle around her, 

 watching her with their enormous black 

 eyes, supporting her, caressing her wings, 

 and waving their feverish antennae as 

 though to encourage, incite, or congratulate. 

 You may easily discover the spot where 

 the queen shall be found by the sort of 

 starry cockade, or oval brooch perhaps 

 of the imposing kind our grandmothers 

 used to wear, of which she forms the 

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