VII 



THE MASSACRE OF THE 

 MALES 



[94] 



IF skies remain clear, the air warm, and 

 pollen and nectar abound in the 

 flowers, the workers, through a kind of 

 forgetful indulgence, or over-scrupulous 

 prudence perhaps, will for a short time 

 longer endure the importunate, disastrous 

 presence of the males. These comport 

 themselves in the hive as did Penelope's 

 suitors in the house of Ulysses. Indeli- 

 cate and wasteful, sleek and corpulent, 

 fully content with their idle existence as 

 honorary lovers, they feast and carouse, 

 throng the alleys, obstruct the passages, 

 and hinder the work ; jostling and jos- 



347 



