The Nuptial Flight 
almost believe that those wonderful eyes of 
theirs, which cover their head as though with 
a glittering helmet, do not recognise or 
desire her save when she soars in the blue. 
Each day, from noon till three, when the 
sun shines resplendent, this plumed horde 
sallies forth in search of the bride, who is 
indeed more royal, more difficult of con- 
quest, than the most inaccessible princess of 
fairy legend; for twenty or thirty tribes 
will hasten from all the neighbouring cities, 
her court thus consisting of more than 
ten thousand suitors; and from these ten 
thousand one alone will be chosen, for the 
unique kiss of an instant that shall wed him 
to death no less than to happiness; while 
the others will fly helplessly round the in- 
, tertwined pair, and soon will perish without 
ever again beholding this prodigious and 
fatal apparition. 
85 
I am not exaggerating this wild and amaz- 
ing prodigality of Nature. The best-con- 
ducted hives will, as a rule, contain four to 
five hundred males. Weaker or degenerate 
243 
