The Progress of the Race 
female will survive who, the next spring, in 
the same solitude and poverty as her mother 
before her, will recommence the same useless 
work. The idea, however, has now grown 
aware of its strength. Among the humble- 
bees it goes no further than we have stated, 
but, faithful to its habits and pursuing its 
usual routine, it will immediately undergo 
a sort of unwearying metempsychosis, and 
re-incarnate itself, trembling with its last 
triumph, rendered all-powerful now and 
nearly perfect, in another group, the last 
but one of the race, that which immediately 
precedes our domestic bee wherein it attains 
its crown: the group of the Meliponite, 
which comprises the tropical Melipone and 
Trigone. 
IIo 
Here the organisation is as complete as 
in our hives. There is an unique mother, 
there are sterile workers and males. Certain 
details even seem better devised. The males, 
for instance, are not wholly idle ; they secrete 
wax. The entrance to the hive is more 
carefully guarded ; it has a door that can be 
327 
