The Swarm 



home, would appear to forget her posses- 

 sion of wings ; and will pursue her active 

 labours, making scarcely a movement, on 

 that particular spot in the hive that her 

 special duties assign. But to-day they all 

 seem bewitched ; they fly in dense circles 

 round and round the polished walls, 

 like a living jelly stirred by an invisible 

 hand. The temperature within rises 

 rapidly, — to such a degree, at times, that 

 the wax of the buildings will soften, and 

 twist out of shape. The queen, who 

 ordinarily never will stir from the centre 

 of the comb, now rushes wildly, in breath- 

 less excitement, over the surface of the 

 vehement crowd that turn and turn on 

 themselves. Is she hastening their de- 

 parture, or trying to delay it .? Does she 

 command, or haply implore ? Does this 

 prodigious emotion issue from her, or is 

 she its victim : Such knowledge as we 

 possess of the general psychology of the 



79 



