The Swarm 



form, its colour, are grasped and retained 

 in these thousands of prudent and faithful 

 little memories. Careful note is taken of 

 the neighbouring landmarks, the new city 

 is founded, and its place established in the 

 mind and the heart of all its inhabitants ; 

 the walls resound with the love-hymn of 

 the royal presence, and work begins. 



[39] 

 But if the swarm be not gathered by 

 man, its history will not end here. It 

 will remain suspended on the branch un- 

 til the return of the workers, who, acting 

 as scouts, winged quartermasters, as it 

 were, have at the very first moment of 

 swarming sallied forth in all directions in 

 search of a lodging. They return one by 

 one, and render account of their mission ; 

 and as it is manifestly impossible for us to 

 fathom the thought of the bees, we can 

 only interpret in human fashion the spec- 

 127 



