THE SOVEREIGN WORKER-BEE 129 
Each busy gang of labourers has apparently a 
distinct and definite task allotted to it by the 
central hive-authority ; co-operation and progress 
are, to all appearances, deified cause and effect in 
all the affairs of the hive. 
It is easy—nay, inevitable—in any close study 
of bee-life with the help of the modern observation- 
hive, to overset the ancient idea of absolute bee- 
monarchy under a single king or queen. But it is 
not so easy to determine how the general govern- 
ment of the colony is actually carried on. Innu- 
merable small consultations on minor matters are 
seen to take place on every side during each 
_moment of the busy day ; but nothing like general 
communication is ever visible. And yet, how are 
the great national movements, such as the despatch 
of a swarm or the supersedure of an old queen, 
brought about ; how are the various common crises 
of the State met, and provided for? The only 
rational inference seems to be that each worker is 
in herself the perfect evolved presentment of re- 
publicanism, in whom all imaginable difficulties in 
collective life have their best solution, tried and 
proved through the ages, and resorted to un- 
erringly as a matter of course. Thus a common 
need is felt, and met instantaneously by a common, 
recognised expedient. The judgment of one is 
necessarily the judgment of all. Every problem 
of daily life, however intricate, is solved by the one 
device, brought to the fine point of perfection 
9 
