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CHAPTER 6: Public Reaction

MULTIPLE CHOICE

1. It is difficult to interpret the role of the general public in the social problems process because
a. people respond to claims differently.
b. people are not always open about their feelings regarding a claim.
c. others involved in the process typically see the public as uninformed and thus
unimportant.
d. those who are not directly involved with a problem typically do not have a large impact on
it.
e. all of the above
f. a and b only
ANS: F

2. In a representative sample,
a. every member of a population is surveyed.
b. every member of the population has an equal probability of being selected to be surveyed.
c. the method of selecting the sample ensures that it includes a representative from each of
the key groups in the population.
d. representatives from the major groups in the population help select the sample.
ANS: B

3. Obtaining a representative sample can be difficult because


a. of new technology like cell phones and caller ID.
b. the way some questions are written can be misleading.
c. it is seen as a discriminatory practice.
d. claimsmakers prefer nonrepresentative samples.
e. all of the above
ANS: A

4. Research on public opinion polls shows that subtle differences in the way questions are worded
a. make the public suspicious of pollsters’ motives.
b. do not influence survey results.
c. can have a small influence on survey results.
d. can have a large influence on survey results.
ANS: D

5. Noting that answering a survey is a social situation reminds us that


a. respondents are likely to be distracted and not think carefully about their answers.
b. respondents might answer on the basis of how they think the researcher wants them to
respond.
c. it is important to make the research atmosphere pleasant.
d. having too much diversity can make people feel shy or intimidated.
e. all of the above
ANS: B
6. When it is stated in your text that “the media are probably more effective at agenda setting than at
communicating particular messages,” it means that the media
a. can attract viewers but not necessarily change those viewers’ opinions.
b. can change opinions about things people are already interested in but cannot call attention
to new issues.
c. tend to call attention to particular issues more than shape people’s opinions about the
issues.
d. can convince people that an issue is a problem but not to act on that belief.
e. b and d only
ANS: C

7. Research indicates that when the media report on crime,


a. people become desensitized to crime. d. there is less coverage of other issues.
b. people have more fear of crime. e. all of the above
c. crime rates fall.
ANS: B

8. Focus groups often reveal that people


a. lie to researchers who are conducting surveys.
b. often feel conflicted or ambivalent about issues.
c. are reluctant to talk about societal problems in social situations.
d. are not aware of many social problems.
e. all of the above
f. c and d only
ANS: B

9. Focus groups reveal that people draw on __________ when discussing social problems.
a. personal experience, common sense, and media reports
b. common sense, expert advice, and media reports
c. expert advice, personal experience, and common sense
d. media reports, educational background, and expert advice
e. educational background, common sense, and personal experience
ANS: A

10. Research on diversity and social problems indicates that, typically, people from diverse backgrounds
a. are reluctant to participate in focus groups.
b. see problems in much the same way.
c. construct problems in very different ways.
d. are less likely to be asked to participate in focus groups.
e. b and c only
ANS: C

11. The quality of focus group data is dependent on


a. how representative the sample is.
b. how skilled the moderator is.
c. whether a random sample is used.
d. the personal experiences of group members.
e. all of the above
f. a and b only
ANS: F

12. Claimsmakers typically use public opinion polls to


a. determine whether their claims are effective.
b. help educate the public about their issue.
c. determine how large a problem really is.
d. make counterclaims.
e. all of the above
f. b and d only
ANS: A

13. Politicians often view poll results as


a. attempts by activists to manipulate lawmakers.
b. overly scientific and not relevant to real-life problems.
c. an indication of what the public wants them to do.
d. inappropriate sources of information for their decision making.
e. all of the above
ANS: C

14. Why is studying folklore useful to those interested in social problems?


a. It lets us learn about what people’s worst fears are.
b. It lets us see how people construct issues when they are not self-conscious about being
observed.
c. It lets us learn from the wisdom of our elders.
d. It lets us learn from the past.
e. all of the above
ANS: B

15. Contemporary legends typically involve claims


a. related to the supernatural.
b. about the dangers of technology.
c. that the world is more dangerous than we think.
d. about how problems should be solved.
e. all of the above
f. b and d only
ANS: C

16. When folklorists talk about a friend-of-a-friend attribution, they are referring to
a. people who spread rumors.
b. someone close enough to the teller to make the story interesting but far enough away to
make tracing it hard.
c. an activist starting a rumor to try to sway public opinion.
d. stories that circulate via e-mail.
e. c and d only
ANS: B
17. Variants on stories are used to
a. tailor the claim to the audience.
b. make tracing the claim more difficult.
c. keep people from thinking critically about the plausibility of the claim.
d. prevent the media from exploiting the claim.
e. all of the above
ANS: A

18. Rumors differ from legends in that rumors are


a. more specific. d. all of the above
b. short-lived. e. none of the above
c. closely tied to a specific location.
ANS: D

19. Contemporary legends about malls often remind us that


a. consumerism is bad for us.
b. we should not trust strangers even in seemingly safe circumstances.
c. globalization is making products less safe.
d. the world is becoming less safe over time.
e. all of the above
ANS: B

20. It is suggested in your text that one reason people make jokes about troubling situations such as
disasters is that
a. jokes are easier to remember than factual claims.
b. disasters are inherently funny.
c. they can express opinions through humor that they would be uncomfortable expressing in
other ways.
d. humor is a way for everyday people to respond to more formal claims.
e. c and d only
ANS: C

21. When it comes to our ability to understand what the public really believes about social problems, it is
argued in your text that
a. it is impossible to ever know because our research methods are not good enough.
b. survey research offers superior results to focus group research.
c. we can best tell what people think by watching changes in actual behavior over time.
d. all of the above
e. none of the above
ANS: D

22. Two widespread contemporary folklore stories that spread after 9/11 involved
a. ethnic tension and connections between people.
b. human evil and rumors.
c. connections between people and the dangers of premarital sex.
d. ethnic tension and religion.
e. religion and politics.
ANS: A

23. Joke cycles after 9/11 indicate that


a. Americans were unable to find any humor in the event.
b. Europeans had an easier time seeing humor in the situation than Americans.
c. there was little humor related to the event anywhere outside of the Arab world.
d. people made efforts to stifle humor related to the tragedy.
e. all of the above
ANS: B

ESSAY

1. Describe and discuss four major challenges to understanding public opinion through public opinion
polls.

ANS:
Answer will vary.

2. Discuss two ways in which the results of polls affect the social problems process.

ANS:
Answer will vary.

3. You are a claimsmaker trying to convince others that student loans should be easier to obtain. You
want to find out about public opinion on the issue but only have enough money to pay for either
surveys or focus groups. Which would you choose and why?

ANS:
Answer will vary.

4. Discuss how contemporary legends reflect underlying conflicts and concerns in the modern world. Be
sure to give examples.

ANS:
Answer will vary.

5. Discuss arguments for and against the idea that joke cycles are a form of claimsmaking.

ANS:
Answer will vary.
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The Project Gutenberg eBook of The apiary; or,
bees, bee-hives, and bee culture [1865]
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eBook.

Title: The apiary; or, bees, bee-hives, and bee culture [1865]

Author: Alfred Neighbor

Release date: June 9, 2022 [eBook #68269]

Language: English

Original publication: United Kingdom: Kent and Company, 1865

Credits: Tom Cosmas compiled from materials made available


at The Internet Archive and placed in the Public
Domain.

*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE APIARY;


OR, BEES, BEE-HIVES, AND BEE CULTURE [1865] ***
THE APIARY
OR,

BEES, BEE-HIVES
AND

BEE CULTURE.
THE APIARY;
OR,

BEES, BEE-HIVES,
AND

BEE CULTURE:
BEING A FAMILIAR ACCOUNT OF THE HABITS OF BEES, AND
THE MOST
IMPROVED METHODS OF MANAGEMENT, WITH FULL
DIRECTIONS,
ADAPTED FOR THE COTTAGER, FARMER, OR,
SCIENTIFIC APIARIAN.
By ALFRED NEIGHBOUR.

"Je connais beaucoup des personnes qu' aiment


les abeilles, mais ne personnes aiment les
mediocrement, ils les passionment."—Gelieu.

LONDON:
KENT AND CO., PATERNOSTER ROW
GEO: NEIGHBOUR AND SONS,
149. REGENT STREET, AND 127, HIGH HOLBORN;
AND ALL, BOOKSELLERS.
1865.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.

Preface—Introductory 1

SECTION I.
The inhabitants of the hive 2
The queen 2
The drone 6
The worker bee 8
Eggs of bees 8
Increase of bees 9
Swarming 11

SECTION II.—Modern Bee-Hives.


Nutt's Collateral Hive 17
Neighbour's Improved Single Box Hive 24
Taylor's Amateur Shallow Box or Eight-bar Hive 26
Taylor's Amateur Seven-bar Hive 27
Neighbour's Improved Cottage 28
Improved Cottage 31
Ladies' Observatory or Crystal Bee-hive 32
Cottagers' Hive for taking honey in straw caps without the destruction of the
34
bees
Woodbury Bar and Frame Hives:—
Wood 36
Straw 37
Glass 38
Frame 39
Improved Comb Bar 39
Compound Bar and Frame 40
Cover 41
Taylor's Improved Cottage Hive 43
" Eight Bar Straw 43
Neighbour's Unicomb Observatory Hive 44
Woodbury " " " 46
Huber's Hive 50

SECTION III.—Exterior Arrangements


and Apparatus.
Bee House to contain two hives 53
" " twelve hives 55
" " nine hives 56
Evening thoughts in January 56
Exterior and interior of an Apiary 58
Zinc Cover 59
Ornamental Zinc Cover 59
Cover of Zinc 60
Bell Glasses 60
Taylor's Glass 60
Payne's Glass 61
Bell Glass with lid 61
Guide Comb for Glasses 61
The New Bottle Feeder 63
Round Bee Feeder 65
Zinc Fountain Bee Feeder 65
Nutt's Drawer Feeder 66
Honey Cutters (13) 66
Fumigator (11) 66
Fumigator (12) 68
Bee Dress or Protector 68
Engraved Pressing Roller, for the guidance of bees in the construction of
69
honey-comb on the bars
Impressed Wax Sheets for artificial comb 70

SECTION IV.
Manipulation and uses of Bar and Frame Hives 73
Putting on Super Hive 75
Taking out Frames with Combs 76
Artificial Swarming 79
Driving 84
Changing Old Stock to new Hives 86
Weighing Hives, &c. 88

SECTION V.—Miscellaneous Information.


Stings: their Prevention and Cure 88
Pollen or Food for Infant Bees 91
Propolis or Bees' Cement 92
Pasturage for Bees 93
The Ligurian or Italian Alp Bee 95
Living Bees at the International Exhibition of 1862,
100
sending Bees to Australia, &c.
Bee-keeping in London 102
Wasps and Moths 106
Draining Honey from the Combs 110
General Remarks 110
On the First Flight of Bees in Spring 116

APPENDIX.—Testimonials of the Press.


Great Exhibition of 1801:—
From the "Cottage Gardener" 119
" "Illustrated London News" 119
" "Express" 121
International Exhibition of 1802:—
From the "Illustrated London News" 121
" "Journal of Horticulture" 121
" "Illustrated News of the World" 122
" "Gardener's Weekly Magazine" 123
Bath and West of England Agricultural Show at Exeter
in June, 1863:—
From the "Journal of Horticulture" 124
" "Western Times" 124
" "Devon Weekly Times" 126
" "Exeter Gazette" 126
Royal Agricultural Show, Newcastle, 1804:—
From the "Northern Daily Express" 126

ERRATA.
At second line from bottom of page 23, for "cottage" read "cottager."
At page 30, fifth line from bottom, for "last page" read "page 25."
At page 44, sixteenth line, for "this plates of glass" read "thin plates
of glass."
At page 53, fourteenth line, read "bee hive" for "bee house."
[Transcriber Note: Above ERRATA corrections were applied.]

EXPLANATIONS OMITTED.
At page 62, "Hold the glass horizontally over the flame of the candle."
At page 80, "An empty hive should be placed on the stand when the
living hive is removed, for the purpose of amusing returning
bees. If the hive is kept in a bee-house, the entrance should be
shut down unto the hive is restored, when the clustered bees
may be at once admitted."
[Transcriber Note: Above EXPLANATIONS were placed.]
PREFACE.

Our apology for preparing a bee book is a very simple one. We are
so frequently applied to for advice on matters connected with bees
and bee-hives, that it seemed likely to prove a great advantage, alike
to our correspondents and ourselves, if we could point to a "handy-
book" of our own, which should contain full and detailed replies
sufficient to meet all ordinary enquiries. Most of the apiarian manuals
possess some special excellence or other, and we have no wish to
disparage any of them. Yet in all, we have found a want of
explanations relating to several of the more recent improvements.
It has, more especially, been our aim to give explicit and detailed
directions on most subjects connected with the hiving and removing
of bees; and also, to show how, by judicious application of the
"depriving" system, the productive powers of the bees may be
enormously increased.
We need say little here as to the interest that attaches to the
apiary as a source of perennial pleasure for the amateur naturalist.
Many of the hives and methods of management are described with a
direct reference to this class of bee-keepers; so that, besides plain
and simple directions suitable for cottagers with their ordinary hives,
this work will be found to include instructions useful for the scientific
apiarian, or, at least, valuable, for those who desire to gain a much
wider acquaintance with the secrets of bee-keeping than is now
usually possessed. We would lay stress on the term "acquaintance,"
for there is nothing in the management of the various bar-and-frame
hives which is at all difficult when frequent practice has rendered the
bee-keeper familiar with them. Such explicit directions are herein
given as to how the right operations may be performed at the right
times, that a novice may at once commence to use the modern
hives. The word "new-fangled" has done good service for the
indolent and prejudiced; but we trust that our readers will be of a
very different class. Let them give a fair trial to the modern
appliances for the humane and depriving system of bee-keeping,
and they will find offered to them an entirely new field of interest and
observation. At present, our continental neighbours far surpass us as
bee-masters; but we trust that the season of 1865, if the summer be
fine, will prove a turning point in the course of. English bee-keeping.
There is little doubt that a greater number of intelligent and influential
persons in this country will become bee-keepers than has ever been
the case before.
Our task would have lost half its interest, did we not hope that it
would result in something beyond the encouragement of a refined
and interesting amusement for the leisurely classes. The social
importance of bee keeping as a source of pecuniary profit for small
farmers and agricultural labourers, has never been appreciated as it
deserves. Yet these persons will not, of themselves, lay aside the
bungling and wasteful plan of destroying the bees, or learn without
being taught the only proper method, that of deprivation. Their
educated neighbours when once interested in bee-keeping, will be
the persons to introduce the more profitable system of humane bee-
keeping. The clergy, especially, as permanent residents in the
country, may have great influence in this respect. There is not a rural
or suburban parish in the kingdom in which bee-keeping might not
be largely extended, and the well being of all but the very poorest
inhabitants would be greatly promoted. Not only would the general
practice of bee-keeping add largely to the national resources, but
that addition would chiefly fall to the share of those classes to whom
it would be of most value. Moreover, in the course of thus adding to
their income, the uneducated classes would become interested in an
elevating and instructive pursuit.
It is curious to observe that honey, whether regarded as a
manufactured article or as an agricultural product, is obtained under
economical conditions of exceptional advantage. If regarded as a
manufactured article, we notice that there is no outlay required for
"labour," nor any expense for "raw material." The industrious
labourers are eager to utilize all their strength: they never "combine"
except for the benefit of their master, they never "strike" for wages,
and they provide their own subsistence. All that the master
manufacturer of honey has to do financially, is to make a little outlay
for "fixed capital" in the needful "plant" of hives and utensils—no
"floating capital" is needed. Then, on the other hand, if we regard
honey as an agricultural product, it presents as such a still more
striking contrast to the economists' theory of what are the "requisites
of production." Not only is there no outlay needed for wages and
none for raw material, but there is nothing to be paid for "use of a
natural agent." Every square yard of land in the United Kingdom may
come to be cultivated, as in China, but no proprietor will ever be able
to claim "rent" for those "waste products" of the flowers and leaves,
which none but the winged workers of the hive can ever utilize.
The recent domestication in England of the Ligurian or "Italian
Alp" bee adds a new and additional source of interest to bee-culture.
We have, therefore, gone pretty fully into this part of the subject; and
believe that what is here published with regard to their introduction
embodies the most recent and reliable information respecting them
that is possessed by English apiarians.[1]
[1] Some of our apiarian friends may be inclined to be
discouraged from cultivating the Ligurian bees in consequence of
the liability to their becoming hybridised when located in proximity
to the black bees. We can dispel these fears by stating that we
have not unfrequently found that hybrid queens possess the
surprising fecundity of the genuine Italian ones, whilst the English
stocks in course of time become strengthened by the infusion of
foreign blood.
We are under many obligations for the advice and assistance that
we have on many occasions received from Mr. T. W. Woodbury, of
Exeter, whose apiarian skill is unrivalled in this country. Our
acknowledgments are also due to Mr. Henry Taylor, author of an
excellent "Bee-Keeper's Manual," for his help and counsel during the
earlier years of our apiarian experience. Both the before-mentioned
gentlemen have freely communicated to us their contrivances and
suggestions, without thought of fee or reward for them. In common
with most recent writers on bee-culture, we are necessarily largely
indebted to the standard works of Huber and succeeding apiarians.
From the more recent volume of the Rev. L. L. Langstroth we have
also obtained useful information. But having ourselves of later years
had considerable experience in the manipulation and practical
management of bees, we are enabled to confirm or qualify the
statement of others, as well as to summarize information gleaned
from many various sources. We should state that our thanks are due
to Mr. W. Martin Wood, who has rendered us valuable aid in the
arrangement of this work.
Let it be understood that we have no patented devices to push:
we are free to choose out of the many apiarian contrivances that
have been offered of late years, and we feel perfectly at liberty to
praise or blame as our experience warrants us in doing. It does not
follow that we necessarily disparage hives which are not described
herein; we have sought, as much as possible, to indicate the
principles on which good hives must be constructed, whatever their
outward size or shape. All through the work, we have endeavoured
to adopt the golden rule of "submission to nature," by reference to
which all the fancied difficulties of bee-keeping may be easily
overcome. In none of the attempts of men to hold sway over natural
objects, is the truth of Bacon's leading doctrine more beautifully
illustrated than in the power that the apiarian exercises in the little
world of bees.
There are one or two literary peculiarities of this work to which we
ought to refer. It will be noticed that the numbers affixed to the
names of the various hives and utensils do not follow in regular
order. Those numbers refer to our Illustrated Catalogue, with which
most English apiarians have long been familiar, and we could not
alter them without great inconvenience.
Some persons may consider we have used too many poetical
quotations in a book dealing wholly with matters of fact. We trust,
however, that an examination of the extracts will at once remove that
feeling of objection.
We venture to hope that the following pages contain many
valuable hints and interesting statements which may tend to excite
increased and renewed attention to the most useful and industrious
of all insects. Although bees have neither reason nor religion for their
guide, yet from them man may learn many a lesson of virtue and
industry, and may even draw from them thoughts suggestive of trust
and faith in God.
We beg leave to conclude our preface, and introduce the subject,
by the following extract from Shakespeare,—who, without doubt,
kept bees in that garden at Stratford wherein he used to meditate:—

"So work the honey bees;


Creatures, that by a rule in Nature, teach
The art of order to a peopled kingdom.
They have a king and officers of sorts;
Where some, like magistrates, correct at home;
Others, like merchants, venture trade abroad;
Others, like soldiers, armed in their stings.
Make boot upon the Summer's velvet buds.
Which pillage they, with merry march, bring home
To the tent royal of their emperor:
Who, busied in his majesty, surveys
The singing masons building roofs of gold;
The civil citizens kneading up the honey;
The poor mechanic porters crowding in
Their heavy burdens at his narrow gate;
The sad-eyed justice, with his surly hum,
Delivering o'er to executors pale
The lazy, yawning drone."—

Shakespeare's Henry V., Act I., Scene 2.


THE APIARY;
OR

BEES, BEE-HIVES, & BEE CULTURE.

There are two classes of persons for whom bee-culture should have
a strong interest, and two distinct purposes for which the pursuit may
be followed. First, there is the cottager or small farmer who, in
thousands of instances, might add considerably to his income by
bee-keeping; and secondly, there is the man of "retired leisure" and
refinement, who, in the personal tendance of an apiary would find an
easy and interesting occupation, and one which could not fail to
quicken his faculties of general scientific observation. Moreover, in
contemplating the wonderful skill, industry, and prevision of his insect
artisans, the bee-keeper would find in his apiary constant illustrations
of creative wisdom.
Amongst the humbler classes in the rural districts, the neglect of
bee-keeping is to be attributed to an exaggerated idea of the trouble
needful for the care of a few hives, and also to ignorance of the
easier and more profitable methods of modern management. Many
of the wealthier country or suburban residents, also, are averse to
the personal trouble which they fancy needful in keeping an apiary;
and, perhaps, some gentlemen are more afraid than they would like
to own of that very efficient weapon of defence with which the honey
bee is provided. But the prejudices against bees are quite
unnecessary; bees are as tractable as they are intelligent, and it is
the purpose of this little book to show that bee-culture is an easy and
safe, as well as a deeply interesting, pursuit. Possibly, also, some
who do us the favour to read our detailed explanations, will see how
the rural clergyman, or the benevolent landlord, who keeps an apiary
of his own, may be of signal service to his poorer neighbours in
explaining to them the mysteries of bee-keeping.

I. THE INHABITANTS OF THE HIVE.


Every hive or bee colony comprises three distinct classes of
bees, each class having functions peculiar to itself, and which are
essential to the well-being of the whole community. As each bee
knows its own proper duties, they all work harmoniously and
zealously together, for the common weal. Certain apparent
exceptions to the good-fellowship of the bees will be hereafter
noticed, but those arise out of essential conditions in the social
economy of the bee community.
The three classes of bees are:—the queen bee, with the pupæ or
embryos intended for queens; the working bees; and the drones or
male bees.
The Queen.—Dr. Evans[2] introduces the queen bee to our
notice thus:—

First of the throng, and foremost of the whole,


One 'stands confest the sovereign and the soul.'

[2] Dr. Evans,—who may be styled the poet-laureate of the


bees,—lived at Shrewsbury, where he practiced as a physician.
His poem on bees is written with great taste and careful
elaboration, and it describes the habits of bees with a degree of
accuracy only attainable after continuous scientific observation.
The queen may very readily be distinguished from the rest of the
bees by the greater length of her body, and the comparative
shortness of her wings; her legs are longer, and are not furnished
with either brushes or baskets as those of the working bee, for being
constantly fed by the latter, she does not need those implements; the
upper surface of her body is of a brighter black than the other bees,
whilst her colour underneath is a yellowish brown; her wings, which
do not extend more than half the length of her body, are sinewy and
strong; her long abdomen tapers nearly to a point; her head is
rounder, her tongue more slender, and not nearly so long, as that of
the working bee, and her sting is curved; her movements are
measured and majestic, as she moves in the hive the other bees
form a circle round her, none venturing to turn their backs upon her,
but all anxious to show that respect and attention due to her rank
and station. Whenever in the exercise of her sovereign will the
queen wishes to travel amongst her subjects, she experiences no
inconvenience from overcrowding; although the part of the hive to
which she is journeying may be the most populous, way is
immediately made, the common bees tumbling over each other to
get out of her way, so great is their anxiety not to interfere with the
royal progress.
It is the chief function of the queen to lay the eggs from which all
future bees originate, the multiplication of the species being the
purpose of her existence, and she follows it up with an assiduity
similar to that with which the workers construct combs or collect
honey. A queen is estimated to lay in the breeding season from
1,500 to 2,000 eggs a-day, and in the course of one year is
supposed to produce more than 100,000 bees. This is indeed a vast
number; but when there is taken into consideration the great number
required for swarms, the constant lessening of their strength by
death in various ways, and the many casualties attending them in
their distant travels in search of the luscious store, it does not seem
that the case is over stated.
In a Glass Unicomb Hive,—which we shall hereinafter describe,
—all the movements of the queen-bee may be traced; she may be
seen thrusting her head into a cell to discover whether it be occupied
with an egg or honey, and if empty, she turns round in a dignified
manner and inserts her long body—so long, that she is able to
deposit the egg at the bottom of the cell; she then passes on to
another, and so continues industriously multiplying her laborious
subjects. It not unfrequently happens when the queen is prolific, and
if it be an early season, that many eggs are wasted for want of
unoccupied cells; for in that case the queen leaves them exposed at
the bottom of the hive when they are greedily devoured by the bees.
The queen-bee, unlike the great majority of her subjects, is a stayer
at home; generally speaking, she only quits the hive twice in her life.
The first occasion is on the all-important day of her marriage, which
always takes place at a great height in the air, and generally on the
second or third day of her princess-life; she never afterwards leaves
the hive, except to lead off an emigrating swarm. Evans, with proper
loyalty, has duly furnished a glowing epithalamium for the queen-
bee:—thus.

When noon-tide Sirius glares on high,


Young love ascends the glowing sky,
From vein to vein swift shoots prolific fire.
And thrills each insect fibre with desire;
Then Nature to fulfil thy prime decree,
Wheels round in wanton rings, the courtier Bee;
Now shyly distant, now with bolder air,
He woos and wins the all-complying fair;
Through fields of ether, veiled in vap'ry gloom
They seek, with amorous haste, the nuptial room;
As erst the immortal pair, on Ida's height,
wreath'd round their noon of joy, ambrosial night,

The loyalty and attachment of bees to their queen is one of their


most remarkable characteristics; they constantly supply her with
food, and fawn upon and caress her, softly touching her with their
antennæ, a favour which she occasionally returns. When she moves
about the hive, all the bees through whom she successively passes
pay her the same homage; those whom she leaves behind in her
track close together, and resume their accustomed occupations.
The majestic deportment of the queen-bee and the homage paid
to her is, with a little poetic license, thus described by Evans:—

But mark of royal port and awful mien.


Where moves with measured pace the insect Queen!
Twelve chosen guards, with slow and solemn gait.
Bend at her nod, and round her person wait.

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