BOOK IX. IX. 7-x. 2 



or, at any rate, that, if there are several, they are 

 reconciled and on good terms with one another, in 

 which case you will leave them as they are until they 

 fly back to their abode. If, however, the swarm is 8 

 divided into two or even more clusters, you need 

 have no doubt that there are several chiefs and that 

 they are still in an angry mood, and you will have to 

 search for the leaders in the parts of the clusters 

 where you see the bees most closely massed to- 

 gether. Having, then, smeared your hand with 

 the juice of the herbs already named, that is, 

 balm and wild parsley, lest they fly away at 

 your touch, you will gently insert your fingers 

 and, after separating the bees from one another, 

 you will search until you find the author of the 

 quarrel. 



X. Now the king-bees are slightly larger and more The king 

 oblong in shape than the other bees, with straighter ^^' 

 legs but less ample wings, of a beautiful shining colour 

 and smooth, without any hair, and stingless, unless one 

 regards as such the coarser hair-like object growing 

 on their belly, of which, however, they do not make 

 use to inflict a hurt. Some, too, are found of a dusky 

 colour and hairy, of whose disposition you will form 

 an unfavourable opinion judging from their bodily 

 appearance. 



As two-fold are the features of the kings, 2 



So are the bodies of their subjects; one 



Will gleam with markings rough with gold, and 



bright 

 With ruddy scales, and of a comely mien." 



" Parts of Vergil, Oeorg. IV. 91-7. 



465 



