58 
FOLLOWING THE BEE LINE 
substance lodged in the antherae of flowers . It is 
certain that they eat this, and that it is afterwards 
converted into wax in their stomachs, for they col¬ 
lect vast quantities of it when they have no combs 
to ma\e, and use it merely as food” 
It is not strange that with his limited facilities 
for investigation, the great scientist should have en¬ 
tertained the mistaken belief that wax was made 
from pollen. 
The book is illustrated with beautiful copper 
plates, showing the anatomical structure of the bee. 
These plates are explained and discoursed upon in 
the text in very animated, intelligible fashion—with 
frequent digressions and philosophizings, which re¬ 
veal the character and spirit of the author. 
He wrote in quaintest phraseology, at once naive 
and shrewd and he never ceased to marvel at the 
wonders of Nature. 
“Certainly” he says, “the nature, disposition, and 
structure of these insects are so surprising that they 
without ceasing loudly proclaim God f s goodness, 
wisdom, power, and majesty” 
Vergil’s Fourth Book of the Georgies treats solely 
of the care of bees. Dryden’s translation of the work 
is quaint and charming. What a delightful begin¬ 
ning! 
