Ill 



THE ECONOMY OF THE HIVE 



Much study has been devoted to bees from time 

 immemorial by philosophers and others in order 

 to find a model on which a human government 

 could be founded. The idea is one which we 

 do not intend, tempting as it must be admitted 

 to be, to follow out. 



The truth is, that from time to time almost 

 all forms of government have been ascribed to 

 the hive. It has been looked upon as despotic 

 in its principles, all allegiance, all authority being 

 vested in the queen, and, on the other hand, it 

 has been argued that it is a perfect type of 

 Socialistic brotherhood. All I intend doing is 

 to state plainly what from experience and study 

 are the ascertained facts relating to the regulation 

 of affairs in the hive. Those who have a pet idea 

 of what government should be, may try to fit 

 it to the case presented to them, if they choose. 



All insects pass through four distinct stages of 

 existence. The definiteness of these stages varies 

 considerably in the different orders, some showing 

 the lines of demarcation only very slightly, while 



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