The Life of the Bee 



exists is certain, but it is certain also that 

 its memory is exceedingly short-lived. 

 Dare to replace in her kingdom a mother 

 whose exile has lasted some days, and her 

 indignant daughters will receive her in 

 such a fashion as to compel you hastily to 

 snatch her from the deadly imprisonment 

 reserved for unknown queens. For the 

 bees have had time to transform a dozen 

 workers' habitations into royal cells, and 

 the future of the race is no longer in 

 danger. Their affection will increase, or 

 dwindle, in the degree that the queen rep- 

 resents the future. Thus we often find, 

 when a virgin queen is performing the 

 perilous ceremony known as the " nuptial 

 flight," of which I will speak later, that 

 her subjects are so fearful of losing her 

 that they will all accompany her on this 



questions that deal with life, we can draw one conclu- 

 sion only: that, till better obtain, curiosity still must 

 rule in our heart. 



io8 



