THE SWARM 



times, that apiarists liave found a mag- 

 nitlcent queen, in the flower of her ag-e, 

 on the central comb of the hive; and in 

 some obscure corner, right at the back, 

 the gaunt, decrepit " old mistress,'' as 

 thev call her in Normandy. In such cases 

 it would seem that the bees have to ex- 

 ercise the greatest care to protect her 

 from the hatred of the vigorous rival 

 who longs for her death : for queen hates 

 queen so tlercely that t^.vo v;ho might 

 happen to be under the same roof would 

 immediately tly at each other. It v.-ould 

 be pleasant to believe that the bees are 

 thus providing their ancient sovereign 

 with a humble shelter in a remote corner 

 of the city, where she may end her days 

 in peace. Here again we touch one of 

 [ -'-^ ] 



