The Life of the Bee 
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 antenne as though 
to encourage, incite, or congratulate. 
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 approached a group than 
they will invariably arrange themselves so 
as to face her with eyes and antenna, and 
to walk backwards before her. It is a 
token of respect or solicitude that, un- 
likely 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 
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