CHAPTER II 

 THE HONEY-BEE 



" The birth and genius of the frugal bee, 

 I sing, Maecenas, and I sing to thee ! " 



THE social life of the honey-bee (Apis mellifica) is 

 more complex than that of any other animal 

 save man, and in some respects the differentia- 

 tion of the units which compose the society 

 surpasses anything we can recognise in human 

 economy. Among other bees and wasps the 

 future of the race is wrapped up throughout 

 the winter months in the body of one fertilised 

 female ; should she die, the particular race is 

 at an end ; but the honey-bee colony lives 

 through the winter and is permanent, or at 

 any rate potentially permanent. Although a 

 " queen " is cherished, the life of the hive is 

 socialistic. No private property exists ; " all is 

 the State's ; the State provides for all." In 

 devotion to duty, in single-mindedness of pur- 

 pose, in energy expended for others, in whole- 



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