The Life of the Bee 



the bees, notwithstanding all, have never 

 forgotten. In such cases they suffer from 

 what is known as " swarming fever ; " 

 a condition wherein life, as in ordinary- 

 fever, reacting too ardently on itself, 

 passes its aim, completes the circle, and 

 discovers only death. 



[69] 



Of all the decisions before them there 

 is none that would seem imperative ; nor 

 can man, if content to play the part of 

 spectator only, foretell in the slightest 

 degree which one the bees will adopt. 

 But that the most careful deliberation 

 governs their choice is proved by the 

 fact that we are able to influence, or even 

 determine it, by for instance reducing or 

 enlarging the space we accord them ; or 

 by removing combs full of honey, and 

 setting up, in their stead, empty combs 

 which are well supplied with workers' cells. 

 250 



