The Young Queens 



the mother. That may not be more as- 

 tounding, perhaps, than a thousand other 

 and analogous phenomena; and, indeed, 

 when we consider these problems, and 

 more especially those of generation, the 

 marvellous and the unexpected confront 

 us so constantly — occurring far more fre- 

 quently, and above all in far less human 

 fashion, than in the most miraculous fairy 

 stories — that after a time astonishment 

 becomes so habitual with us that we almost 

 cease to wonder. The fact, however, is 

 sufficiently curious to be worthy of notice. 

 But, on the other hand, how shall we 

 explain to ourselves the aim that nature 

 can have in thus favouring the valueless 

 drones at the cost of the workers who are 

 so essential? Is she afraid lest the fe- 

 males might perhaps be induced by their 

 intellect unduly to limit the number of 

 their parasites, which, destructive though 

 they be, are still necessary for the preser- 

 271 



