The Life of the Bee 



her venomous weapon until the victim 

 perish. She then becomes calmer, ap- 

 peased by the death that puts a term to 

 the hatred of every creature ; she with- 

 draws her sting, hurries to the adjoining 

 cell, attacks it and opens it, passing it 

 by should she find in it only an im- 

 perfect larva or nymph ; nor does she 

 pause till, at last, exhausted and breath- 

 less, her claws and teeth glide harmless 

 over the waxen walls. 



The bees that surround her have calmly 

 watched her fury, have stood by, inac- 

 tive, moving only to leave her path clear ; 

 but no sooner has a cell been pierced 

 and laid waste than they eagerly flock 

 to it, drag out the corpse of the rav- 

 ished nymph, or the still living larva, 

 and thrust it forth from the hive, there- 

 upon gorging themselves with the pre- 

 cious royal jelly that adheres to the sides 

 of the cell. And finally, when the queen 

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