THE SWARM 

 are no bees becomes as sad and as empty 

 as one without flowers or birds. 



4> 



The man who never before has beheld 

 the swarm of a populous hive must re- 

 gard this riotous, bewildering spectacle 

 N\ith some apprehension and diffidence. 

 He will be almost afraid to draw near ; he 

 will wonder can these be the earnest, the 

 peace-loving, hard-working bees whose 

 movements he has hitherto followed? It 

 was but a few moments before he had 

 seen them troop in from all parts of the 

 countr}', as pre-occupied, seemingly, as little 

 housewives might be, with no thoughts be- 

 \ond household cares. He had watched 

 them stream into the hive, imperceptibly 



[45 J 



