The Swarm 



And then there is silence once more ; 

 and, in an instant, this mighty tumult, 

 this awful curtain apparently laden with 

 unspeakable menace and anger, this be- 

 wildering golden hail that streamed upon 

 every object near — all these become merely 

 a great, inoffensive, peaceful cluster of bees, 

 composed of thousands of little motionless 

 groups, that patiently wait, as they hang 

 from the branch of a tree, for the scouts 

 to return who have gone in search of a 

 place of shelter. 



[38] 



This is the first stage of what is known 

 as the " primary swarm " at whose head 

 the old queen is always to be found. 

 They will settle as a rule on the shrub 

 or the tree that is nearest the hive ; for 

 the queen, besides being weighed down 

 by her eggs, has dwelt in constant dark- 

 ness ever since her marriage-flight, or the 

 123 



