158 THE LIFE OF THE BEE 



83 



Does this force take measures to maintain what may 

 be struggling on its surface, or must we say, arguing in the 

 strangest of circles, that what floats on its surface must guard 

 itself against the genius that has given it life ? That question 

 must be left open. We have no means of ascertaining 

 whether it be notwithstanding the efforts of the superior 

 will, or independently of these, or lastly, because of these, 

 that a species has been able to survive. 



All we can say is that such a species exists, and that 

 on this point, therefore, Nature would seem to be right. 

 But who shall tell us how many others that we have not 

 known have fallen victim to her restless and forgetful in- 

 tellect ? Beyond this we can recognise only the surprising 

 and occasionally hostile forms that the extraordinary fluid 

 we call life assumes, in utter unconsciousness sometimes, at 

 others with a kind of consciousness : the fluid which ani- 

 mates us equally with all the rest, which produces the very 

 thoughts that judge it, and the feeble voice that attempts 

 to tell its story. 



