THE FOUNDATION OF THE CITY 115 



her long spindle-shaped abdomen into one of the cells ; the 

 little eager heads of her escort meanwhile forming a passionate 

 circle around her, watching her with their enormous black 

 eyes, supporting her, caressing her wings, and waving their 

 feverish antennas as though to encourage, incite, or con- 

 gratulate. 



You may easily discover the spot where the queen 

 shall be found by the sort of starry cockade, or 'oval brooch 

 perhaps of the imposing kind our grandmothers used to 

 wear, of which she forms the central stone. And one may 

 mention here the curious fact that the workers always avoid 

 turning their back on the queen. No sooner has she ap- 

 proached a group than they will invariably arrange themselves 

 so as to face her with eyes and antennae, and to walk back- 

 wards before her. It is a token of respect or solicitude 

 that, unlikely as it may seem, is nevertheless constant and 

 general. But to return to the queen. During the slight 

 spasm that visibly accompanies the emission of an egg, one 

 of her daughters will often throw her arms round her and 

 appear to be whispering to her, brow pressed to brow and 

 mouth to mouth. But the queen, in nowise disturbed by 

 this somewhat bold demonstration, takes her time, tranquilly, 

 calmly, wholly absorbed by the mission that would seem 

 amorous delight to her rather than labour. And after some 

 seconds she will rise, very quietly, take a step back, execute 

 a slight turn on herself, and proceed to the next cell, into 

 which she will first, before introducing her abdomen, dip 

 her head to make sure that all is in order and that she is 

 not laying twice in the same cell ; and in the meanwhile 

 two or three of her escort will have plunged into the cell 



