The Life of the Bee 



seek other skies when the day for mi- 

 gration returns. Nor is it a kind of 

 mechanical habit of the race, or bhnd 

 craving for hfe, that will fling the bees 

 upon any wild hazard the moment an 

 unforeseen event shall derange the accus- 

 tomed order of phenomena. On the 

 contrary, be the event never so masterful, 

 the " spirit of the hive " still will follow 

 it, step by step, like an alert and quick- 

 witted slave, who is able to derive ad- 

 vantage even from his master's most 

 dangerous orders. 



It disposes pitilessly of the wealth and 

 the happiness, the liberty and life, of all 

 this winged people ; and yet with discre- 

 tion, as though governed itself by some 

 great duty. It regulates day by day the 

 number of births, and contrives that these 

 shall strictly accord with the number of 

 flowers that brighten the country-side. 

 It decrees the queen's deposition or warns 



40 



