The Swarm 
of the race is no longer in danger. Their 
affection will increase or dwindle in the 
degree that the queen represents the future. 
Thus we often find, when a virgin queen is 
performing the perilous ceremony known as 
the ‘nuptial flight,” of which I shall speak 
later, that her subjects are so fearful of 
losing her that they will all accompany her 
on this distant and tragic quest of love. 
This they will never do, however, if they 
be provided with a fragment of comb con- 
taining brood-cells, whence they shall be 
able to rear other queens. Indeed, their 
affection may even turn into fury and hatred 
should their sovereign fail in her duty to 
of the bees, and being famished she eagerly accepts 
the food they offer. The workers, deceived by her 
assurance, do not examine her, but probably imagine 
that their old queen has returned, and welcome her 
joyfully. It would seem therefore, that, contrary to the 
opinion of Huber and all other investigators, the bees 
are not capable of recognising their queen. In any event, 
the two explanations, which are both equally plausible— 
though the truth may lurk, perhaps, in a third that is not 
yet known to us—only prove once again how complex 
and obscure is the psychology of the bee. And from 
this, as from all questions that deal with life, we can 
draw one conclusion only: that, till better obtain, 
curiosity still must rule in ou heart. 
9 
