The Family 1 1 7 



not only worthy men and without all exception do report ; 

 but even rustical and common experience doth confirm. 

 They say that out of the brains of these beasts are bred the 

 Kings and Nobility, and of their flesh the common sort of 

 ordinary Bees. There are likewise kings that are bred out 

 of the marrow of the chine-bone, but then those that come 

 of the brains do far excell the other in feature or comli- 

 nesse, in largenesse, in prudence, and in strength of body." 

 Shakespeare alludes to the common superstition of the 

 origin of bees from dead matter in " Henry IV." The king 

 is railing against the prince, when Warwick defends him, 

 saying he will in time forsake his evil companions, to which 

 the king replies, — 



" 'T is seldom when the bee doth leave her comb 

 In the dead carrion." 



The modern queen-bee certainly has no spot, like a 

 diadem, glittering on her brow, as Pliny relates, but she is 

 fairly entided to the pleasant praise of Butler, who informs 

 us, — 



"The queen is a fair and stately bee, differing from the 

 vulgar both in shape and color : her back is all over of a 

 bright brown ; her belly, even from the top of 

 her fangs to the tip of her train, is of a sad 

 yellow, somewhat deeper than the richest gold," 

 and the remainder of Butler's description of 

 the queen is as accurate and far more pictur- 

 esque than can be found in the modern bee- 

 books. 



" She is longer than a honey bee, by one third 

 part, that is, almost an inch long : she is also 

 bigger than a honey bee ; but not so big as a drone, 

 although somewhat longer : her head proportionable, but 

 that is more round than the little bees, by reason her fangs 



Queen-bee. 



