Page:Jardine Naturalist's library Bees.djvu/66

 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 antennæ; and these circumstances, which may be observed every hour in the day, in a properly constructed 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 endeavoured 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