78 THE LIFE OF THE BEE 



perpendicular ; the whole forming a bewildering network 

 that obscures the surfaces of their dwelling. 



42 



And yet, for all this, there exists not a single instance 

 of a swarm refusing its duty, or allowing itself to be baffled 

 or discouraged by the strangeness of its surroundings ; except 

 only in the case of the new dwelling being absolutely un- 

 inhabitable, or impregnated with evil odours. And even 

 then the bees will not be disheartened or bewildered ; even 

 then they will not abandon their mission. The swarm will 

 simply forsake the inhospitable abode, to seek better fortune 

 some little distance away. And similarly it can never be 

 said of them that they can be induced to undertake any 

 illogical or foolish task. Their common sense has never 

 been known to fail them ; they have never, at a loss for 

 definite decision, erected at haphazard structures of a wild 

 or heterogeneous nature. Though you place the swarm in 

 a sphere, a cube, or a pyramid, in an oval or polygonal 

 basket, you will find, on visiting the bees a few days later, 

 that if this strange assembly of little independent intellects 

 has accepted the new abode, they will at once, and unhesitat- 

 ingly, and unanimously, have known how to select the most 

 favourable, often, humanly speaking, the only possible, spot 

 in this absurb habitation, in pursuance of a method whose 

 principles may appear inflexible, but whose results are strik- 

 ingly vivid. 



When installed in one of the huge factories, bristling 

 with frames, that we mentioned just now, these frames will 



