The Swarm 



same thing, and are compelled, however 

 slight the sentiment within them, to adopt 

 common habits, to live in accord and 

 union, to busy themselves with their dwel- 

 ling, to return to it after their journeys, 

 etc., etc. And on this foundation arise 

 the architecture, the geometry, the order, 

 the foresight, love of country, — in a word, 

 the republic; all springing, as we have 

 seen, from the admiration of the observer." 

 There we have our bees explained in a 

 very different fashion. And if it seem 

 more natural at first, is it not for the very 

 simple reason that it really explains al- 

 most nothing? I will not allude to the 

 material errors this chapter contains; I 

 will only ask whether the mere fact of the 

 bees accepting a common existence, while 

 doing each other the least possible harm, 

 does not in itself argue a certain intelli- 

 gence. And does not this intelligence 

 appear the more remarkable to us as we 



95 



