The Nuptial Flight 
moment when they authorise the massacre 
of the rival queens. That point reached 
their instinct halts, and there is, as it were, 
a gap in their foresight—They appear to be 
wholly indifferent. They raise their heads, 
recognise, probably, the murderous tokens 
of impregnation, but, still mistrustful, mani- 
fest none of the gladness our expectation 
had pictured. Being positive in their ways, 
and slow at illusion, they probably need 
further proofs before permitting themselves 
to rejoice. Why endeavour to render too 
logical or too human the feelings of little 
creatures so different from ourselves ? 
Neither among the bees nor among any 
other animals that have a ray of our intel- 
lect do things happen with the precision 
our books record. Too many circum- 
stances remain unknown to us. Why try 
to depict the bees as more perfect than they 
are by saying that which is not? Those 
who would deem them more interesting 
did they resemble ourselves have not yet 
truly realised what it is that should awaken 
the interest of a sincere mind. The aim 
of the observer is not to surprise, but to 
259 
