Origin of Make a Beeline

For centuries bees have been associated with industriousness, but in the past it was also thought that they always flew in a straight line to the hive when they had collected their pollen, similar to the way we still use the expression "The way the crow flies" to indicate a unimpeded route. Although there is no evidence of the bee flying in a straight line, that hasn't impeded the use of the word "beeline" as a way of indicating a hasty, direct route to something.