THE SWARM 



with sound ; h}-mning, doubtless, the chant 

 of welcome their rites dictate for moments 

 of supreme happiness or solemn respect. 



But let it not be imag-ined that a for- 

 eign queen may with impunity be sub- 

 stituted for the legitimate mother. The 

 bees will at once detect the imposture ; 

 the intruder will be seized, and immedi- 

 ately enclosed in the terrible, tumultu- 

 ous prison, whose obstinate walls will 

 be relieved, as it were, till she dies: 

 for in this particular instance it hardly 

 ever occurs that the stranger emerges 

 alive. 



And here it is curious to note to 

 what diplomacy and elaborate stratagem 

 man is compelled to resort in order to 

 delude these little sagacious insects, and 



[S4] 



