The Swarm 



home, would appear to forget her posses- 

 sion of wings ; and will pursue her active 

 labours, making scarcely a movement, on 

 that particular spot in the hive that her 

 special duties assign. But to-day they all 

 seem bewitched ; they fly in dense circles 

 round and round the polished walls; 

 like a living jelly stirred by an invisible 

 hand. The temperature within rises 

 rapidly, — to such a degree, at times, thai 

 the wax of the buildings will soften, and 

 twist out of shape. The queen, who 

 ordinarily never will stir from the centre 

 o£ the comb, now rushes wildly, in breath- 

 les, excitement, over the surface / the 

 veh'. nient crowd that turn and turn on 

 themselves. Is she hastening their de- 

 parture, or trying to delay it .? Does she 

 command, or haply implore ? Does this 

 prodigious emotion issue from her, or is 

 she its victim ? Such knowledge as we 

 possess of the general psychology of the 

 79 



