ITALIAN QUEEN BEE 39 



lead, they all moved off a short distance 

 away on the comb. I took this as a chal- 

 lenge to my strength and self-confidence, 

 and so anxious was I to get out that straight- 

 way I made bold to push up against the lid, 

 which slowly rose upon its hinge, and I 

 crawled out upon the plateau of adjoin- 

 ing brood cells. At once everyone turned 

 about to face and reverently salute me. 

 Then one of the Maids slowly walked for- 

 ward and most deferentially drawing her 

 head down upon the surface of the comb 

 and smoothing back her hair with her an- 

 tenna?, lengthily greeted me thus: "Most 

 fair and gracious Majesty, your august 

 Mother, our late honored Sovereign, obey- 

 ing an instinctive inspiration from the Al- 

 mighty Creator of all things great and 

 smally has left this home to found another 

 like it, that our colony may contribute its 

 share in obeying the law to be fruitful and 

 multiply, replenish the earth, make glad the 

 heart of man, and aid in the completion of 

 the wonderful designs of the All Wise. 



