The Life of the Bee 
events. ‘‘They are beating to arms,” say 
the French peasants. And then the strange 
home will at once be accepted, and its 
remotest corners explored; its position in 
the apiary, its 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 in- 
habitants; 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 until 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 
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