50 



THE BEE AS AN INSECT [Ch. i. 



queens with Egyptian drones, with a view solely to the 

 aesthetic purpose of raising the most beautiful breed of 

 bees to be obtained. 



The German apiarian Herr Vogel has given special 

 attention to this variety, and has discovered in it some 

 interesting peculiarities. It never gathers propolis, but 

 uses wax in its place ; and it seems almost proof against 

 the cold. But the most singular fact that has come to 

 his knowledge is that there exist regularly in an Egyptian 

 colony some twelve or so small drone-laying queens, 

 which would be called fertile workers but that they 

 have a distinctive appearance, consisting in the waxen 

 yellow of their breasts — a feature which is possessed 

 also by the drones of their progeny. This is assuredly 

 one of the most curious discoveries that have ever 

 been made in relation even to this most curious of 

 insects. 



The late Mr. Woodbury imported some of these bees, 

 but found them exceedingly vicious, and really to possess 

 no superiority over our English bees. Some years since 

 Mr. Waterhouse Hawkins, the naturalist, bought a stock 

 of Mr. Woodbury, and brought them with him in order to 

 place in the Horticultural Gardens at South Kensington. 

 Being unacquainted with the placing of bees, he asked 

 our aid in doing so. From the experience of them 

 thereby acquired our own idea would be that no one 

 could ever desire such bees ; they came out with a rush, 

 and stung everybody within reach, right and left, who was 



