The Massacre of the Males 



and less prosperous republics. Only the 

 poorest, weakest colonies — those whose 

 mother is very old and almost sterile — 

 will preserve their males till the approach 

 of winter, so as not to abandon the hope 

 of procuring the impregnation of the 

 virgin queen they await, and who may 

 yet be born. Inevitable misery follows ; 

 and all the tribe — mother, parasites, 

 workers — collect in a hungry and closely 

 intertwined group, who perish in silence 

 before the first snows arrive, in the ob- 

 scurity of the hive. 



In the wealthy and populous cities 

 work is resumed after the execution of 

 the drones, — although with diminishing 

 zeal, for flowers are becoming scarce. 

 The great festivals, the great dramas, are 

 over. The autumn honey, however, that 

 shall complete the indispensable provi^ 

 sions, is accumulating within the hospi- 

 table walls ; and the last reservoirs arc 

 355 



