58 TREATISE ON THE 
to cell, furnishing each with the germ ofa 
future inhabitant ; and during these proceed- 
ings she receivs the most marked and atffec- 
tionate attention from the workers. Wher- 
ever she stops, she is seen continually sur- 
rounded bya circle of them, from ten to 
twelve, who caress her fondly with their an- 
tenn, and occasionally supply her with 
food from their probosces. ‘This appearance 
has given rise to the notion commonly en- 
tertained, and asserted even by some natu- 
ralists, that the queen is followed in her pro- 
gress through the hive by a number of her 
subjects formed in a circle round her, and 
these of course have been regarded as the 
queen’s body guards. 'The truth is, how- 
ever, that her Bee-majesty has no attendants, 
but wherever she moves the workers whom 
she encounters in her progress, instantly and 
hurriedly clear the way before her, and all 
turning their heads towards their approach- 
ing sovereign, lavish their caresses upon her 
with much apparent affection, and touch her 
softly with their antenne ; and these circum- 
