02 
THE SENSES OF BEES. 
her 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, however that her Bee- 
majesty has no attendants, strictly speaking ; none 
who follow in her train ; 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 approaching 
sovereign, lavish their caresses upon her with much 
apparent affection, and touch her softly with their 
antennae ; and these circumstances, which may be 
observed every hour in the day, in a properly con- 
structed glass hive, have given rise to the idea of 
guards. The moment she has left the circle, the 
bees who had surrounded her instantly resume their 
labours, and she passes on, receiving from every 
group in her way the homage due to a Mother and a 
Queen. On one occasion we gave her subjects an 
opportunity of testifying their courage in her defence 
as well as their affection and zeal. Observing her 
laying eggs in the comb next to the glass of the hive, 
we gently but quickly opened the pane, and endea- 
voured to seize her. But no sooner did the removal 
of the glass afford room, — (while shut it was almost 
in contact with her back ;) — and before we could 
accomplish our purpose, they threw their bodies 
upon her to the number of at least a hundred, and 
formed a cone over her of such magnitude that she 
could not be less than two inches distant from any 
part of the surface. We dispersed the mass with 
our finger, and got hold of her precious person, and 
