The Swarm 



[17] 



That is a thing, some will say, that 

 men would not do, — a proof that the 

 bee, notwithstanding the marvels of its 

 organisation, still is lacking in intellect and 

 veritable consciousness. Is this so certain ? 

 Other beings, surely, may possess an intel- 

 lect that differs from ours, and produces 

 different results, without therefore being 

 inferior. And besides, are we, even in 

 this little human parish of ours, such 

 infallible judges of matters that pertain to 

 the spirit ? Can we so readily divine 

 the thoughts that may govern the two 

 or three people we may chance to see 

 moving and talking behind a closed win- 

 dow, when their words do not reach us ? 

 Or let us suppose that an inhabitant of 

 Venus or Mars were to contemplate us 

 from the height of a mountain, and watch 

 the little black specks that we form in 

 6i 



