The Life of the Bee 
comprehend; and to point out the gaps exist- 
ing in an intellect and the signs of a cerebral 
organisation different from our own is more 
curious by far than the relating of mere 
marvels concerning it. 
But this indifference is not shared by all; 
and when the breathless queen has reached 
the alighting-board, some groups will form 
and accompany her into the hive, where the 
sun, hero of every festivity in which the bees 
take part, is entering with little timid steps, 
and bathing in azure and shadow the waxen 
walls and curtains of honey. Nor does the 
new bride, indeed, show more concern than 
her people, there being no room for many 
emotions in her narrow, barbarous, practical 
brain. She has but one thought, which is 
to rid herself as quickly as possible of the 
embarrassing souvenirs her consort has left 
her, whereby her movements are hampered. 
She seats herself on the threshold, and care- 
fully strips off the useless organs, that are 
borne far away by the workers; for the male 
has given her all he possessed, and much 
more than she requires. She retains only, 
in her spermatheca, the seminal liquid where 
