THE SWARM 



would apptir to forget her possession of 

 v/ings ; and v/ill pursue her active labours, 

 making scarcely a movement, on that par- 

 ticular spot in the hive that her special 

 duties assign. But to-day they all seem 

 bev.dtched ; they fly in dense circles round 

 and round the polished v/alls. like a liv- 

 ing ielly stirred by an invisible hand. The 

 temperature vdthin rises rapidly, — to such 

 a degree, at times, that the wax o: the 

 buildings wlI so'ften, and tv.dst out of 

 shape. The queen, v.-ho ordinarily never 

 will stir from the centre of the com.b. 

 now rushes wild!'.', in breathless excite- 

 ment, o-.'cr the surface of the \-ehement 

 crov/d that turn and turn on themselves. 

 Is she hastening their depanure, or tr/ing 

 to delavit' Does she command, or harlv 



