ITALIAN QUEEN BEE 41 



this line-bred colony of Italian Honey 

 Bees!" 



As if by concerted inspiration there was, 

 forthwith, a great commotion, made by bow- 

 ing, scraping, shaking of bodies, buzzing 

 of wings, and a blended confusion of utter- 

 ances, above the din of which I discerned 

 "Bosh, Bosh" and "Hock, Hock," and 

 "Queen, Queenie, ee-e-e." This subsiding 

 decorously, in due time, all sped gallantly 

 to me, and some began to give me their 

 tongues that I might delight myself in draw- 

 ing fresh nectar from their honey sacs. 

 Others fell to stroking my hair, grooming my 

 body, unhooking and rehooking my upper 

 and nether wings, smoothing the fur of the 

 yellow bands on my back, rubbing down my 

 legs and feet, and patting my head with 

 their antennae. This done, and while I 

 was meditating upon my new and exalted 

 heritage and responsibility, silently deciding 

 what I should do first, I heard an individual 

 "Bosh, Bosh," and a ponderous stamping 



