The Swarm 



themselves time to eat or to sleep. la 

 numbers they are to the others as a thou 

 sand to one. It is remarkable that the 

 species should have been able to survive- 

 to this day under conditions so unfavour- 

 able to its development. It should be 

 mentioned, however, that apart from this 

 characteristic devotion to their wearisome 

 toil, they appear inoffensive and docile; 

 and satisfied with the leavings of those 

 who evidently are the guardians, if not 

 the saviours, of the race." 



Is it not strange that the hive, which 

 we vaguely survey from the height of 

 another world, should provide our first 

 questioning glance with so sure and pro- 

 found a reply? Must we not adnvre the 

 manner in which the thought or the god 

 that the bees obey is at once revealed by 

 their edifices, wrought with such striking 

 s 65 



