THE SWAR.W 



CeiT.iin .IS it miy seem that the bees 

 communique with each other, we know 

 not whether this be done in human 

 fashion. It is possible e\-en that their 

 own refrain may be inaudible to them: 

 tiie murmur that comes to us heavil\' 

 laden with perfume of hone\', the ecstatic 

 whisper of fairest summer da_\-s that the 

 bee-keeper loves so well, the festival song; 

 of labour that rises and falls around the 

 hive in the crystal of the hour, and 

 mig'ht almost be tiie chant of the eag'er 

 rlowers. h>'mn of their gladness and echo 

 of their soft fragrance, the x'oice of the 

 white carnations, the marjoram, and the 

 th\-me. The\' have. ho\\'e\'er. a \\'hole 

 g:amuT of sounds that we can distinguish, 

 ranging from profound delight to menace, 



