The Life of the Bee 



the bees, notwithstanding all, have never 

 forgotten. In such cases they suffer from 

 what is known as " swarming fever ; " 

 a condition wherein life, as in ordinary 

 fever, reacting too ardently on itself, 

 passes its aim, completes the circle, and 

 discovers only death. 



[69] 



Of all the decisions before them there 



is none that would seem imperative ; nor 



can man, if content to play the part of 



spectator only, foretell in the slightest 



degree which one the bees will adopt. 



But that the most careful deliberation 



governs their choice is proved by the 



fact that we are able to influence, or even 



determine it, by for instance reducing or 



enlarging the space we accord them; or 



by removing combs full of honey, and 



setting up, in their stead, empty combs 



which are well supplied with workers* cells. 



250 



