The Swarm 



themselves time to eat or to sleep. In 

 numbers they are to the others as a thou- 

 sand to one. It is remarkable that the 

 species should have been able to survive 

 to this day under conditions so unfavour- 

 able to its development. It should be 

 mentioned, however, that apart from this 

 characteristic devotion to their wearisome 

 toil, they appear inoffensive and docile ; 

 and satisfied with the leavings of those 

 who evidently are the guardians, if not 

 the saviours, of the race." 



[i8] 



Is it not strange that the hive, which 

 we vaguely survey from the height of 

 another world, should provide our first 

 questioning glance with so sure and pro- 

 found a reply ? Must we not admire the 

 manner in which the thought or the god 

 that the bees obey is at once revealed by 

 their edifices, wrought with such striking 

 5 65 



