Deborah: " The Honey-Bee!' 289 



Elsewhere it is only " the wild-bee," but there can be no 

 doubt of the insect intended "the bees that in the neigh- 

 bouring trunk make honey-hoards" (Coleridge), the "wild 

 bee voyaging deep-toned " (Grahame), whose " deep drowsy 

 murmurs pass, like a low thrill of harp-strings, through the 

 grass " (Mrs. Hemans), " with sudden buzz slung past the 

 ear" (Leyden) : 



"the buzz 



Angrily-shrill of moss-entangled bee, 

 That soon as loosed booms with full twang away." Hurdis. 



There are in England many, more than a dozen, kinds of 

 " humble-bees," and two of these are mentioned by name 

 in verse. In " Midsummer Night's Dream " Bottom asks 

 Cobweb to " kill him a red-tipped humble-bee on the top of 

 a thistle : and good monsieur, bring me the honey-bag," and 

 in "Alls Well that Ends Well" it is the "red-tailed humble- 

 bee." This beautiful and familiar insect is the " lapidary " 

 bee, which builds by preference among or between stones. 

 It is an excitable insect, and fierce in defence of its home, 

 and is probably the bee referred to by Grahame. 



" Should they find a sable swarm's retreat, 

 Deep-earthed, the mining spade must lay it bare ; 

 Nor unresisting do the inmates yield, 

 Their little state : forth at the first alarm 

 They swarming rush, and chacing in long train 

 The flying foe, deal sharp not deadly wounds ; 

 Rallied at length, the assailants to the charge, 

 With doublets doffed attack the stinging tribes." 



Another is called the "yellow-banded and "yellow-girted," 

 and is the equally common "ground" humble-bee. Poets 

 have another variety, "the brown-bee," but I cannot 

 identify it. 



1 ' The mower 

 Draws from the grass the brown-bee's honied nest." Leyden. 



' ' The younger wights with busy eye explore 

 The foggage, where, concealed with mickle art, 

 The brown-bee's cups in rude formed clusters lie." Grahame. 



T 



