THE SWARM 



And then there is silence once more: 

 and, in an instant, this mighty tumult, 

 this aw'ful curtain apparently laden with 

 unspeakable menace and anger, this be- 

 wildering golden hail that streamed upon 

 every object near — all these become 

 merely a great, inoffensive, peaceful cluster 

 of bees, composed of thousands of little 

 motionless groups, that patiently wait, as 

 they hang from the branch of a tree, for 

 the scouts to return who have gone in 

 search of a place of shelter. 





This is the first stage of what is 

 known as the "primary swarm" at whose 

 head the old queen is always to be found. 

 They will settle as a rule on the shrub or 



[106] 



