At every shrine,”
begin to venture out of their hives about the middle of this month. As their food is the honey-like juice found in the tubes of flowers, their coming abroad is a certain indication of the approach of Spring. No creature seems possessed of a greater power of foreseeing the weather; so that their appearance in the morning may be reckoned a sure token of a fine day.
The insect world, now sunbeams higher climb,
Oft dream of Spring, and wake before their time.
Bees stroke their little legs across their wings,
And venture short flights where the snow-drop brings
Its silver bell, and winter aconite,
Its buttercup-like flowers, that shut at night,
With green leaf furling round its cup of gold,
Like tender maiden muffled from the cold;