The Life of the Bee 
in the darkness; and no sooner is the 
first row of dwellings complete than she 
takes possession with her escort of coun- 
sellors, guardians, or servants—for we 
know not whether she lead or be led, be 
venerated or supervised. When the spot. 
has been reached that she, or her urgent 
advisers, may regard as favourable, she 
arches her back, bends forward, and intro- 
duces the extremity of 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 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 
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