The Progress of the Race 



emancipate itself from them ? Much 

 might be said concerning these faults, 

 which emanate now from what is unknown 

 to us in the hive, now from swarming and 

 its resultant errors, for which we are 

 partly to blame. But let every man 

 judge for himself, and, having seen what 

 has gone before, let him grant or deny 

 intelligence to the bees, as he may think 

 proper. I am not eager to defend them. 

 It seems to me that in many circum- 

 stances they give proof of understanding, 

 but my curiosity would not be less were 

 all that they do done blindly. It is 

 interesting to watch a brain possessed 

 of extraordinary resources within itself 

 wherewith it may combat cold and 

 hunger, death, time, space, and solitude, 

 all the enemies of matter that is springing 

 to life ; but should a creature succeed in 

 maintaining its little profound and com- 

 plicated existence without overstepping 



411 



