The Life of the Bee 



endeavour to see ; and at once the least 

 phenomenon of all becomes overpower- 

 ingly complex ; we are confronted by the 

 enigma of intellect, of destiny, will, aim, 

 means, causes ; the incomprehensible or- 

 ganisation of the most insignificant act 

 of life. 



Our hive, then, is preparing to swarm ; 

 making ready for the great immolation to 

 the exacting gods of the race. In obe- 

 dience to the order of the spirit — an order 

 that to us may well seem incomprehen- 

 sible, for it is entirely opposed to all our 

 own instincts and feelings — 60,000 or 

 70,000 bees out of the 80,000 or 90,000 

 that form the whole population, will aban- 

 don the maternal city at the prescribed 

 hour. They will not leave at a moment 

 of despair ; or desert, with sudden and 

 wild resolve, a home laid waste by famine, 

 46 



