78 — Lhe Eiftory of Buss. 
heads, not unlike a Diadem; which he 
very probably took, as well as other Things, 
from Pliny.* But of all the Numbers I 
have viewed and examined, for the Space 
of fo many Years (including 30 or 4o the 
Taft Seafon) I could never obferve any fuch 
Star. Mr. Purchas fays the fame, and is 
pofitive there is no fuch Spot. And yet 
(pag. 31.) tells us, he hath feen Bees with 
Crefts, or Taffels upon their Heads of diffe- 
rent Colours; which muft be nothing more 
than adventitious or accidental. 
Again, the Sovereign may be eafily diftin- 
guifhed from all her Subjects by her Form 
and Shape; being larger and longer than the 
labouring Bees, efpecially in her hinder Part, 
which is by far more taper than all the other, 
_ terminating ina much fharper Point ; Na- 
ture having given her this peculiar Form, in 
order the more readily to reach the Bottom 
of the Cells, where the Eggs are depofited 
for the Propagation of the Species. 
Finally, by her Colour alfo fhe may be 
difcovered, and by this I have more fre- 
quently found her, than by any other Marks 
of Diftinétion. Her upper Parts are little, 
if at all, different from the Honey-Bees; 
but her Belly and Legs are of a very deep 
Yellow, much refembling the pureft and the 
richeft Gold. 
When 
— * Plin. GL, 11. c. 16. In fronte macula quodam Dia- 
demate Aculeo preditus flimulo armatus. Caudicans, 

ee ee 
