The Life of the Bee 
endeavour to see; and at once the least 
phenomenon of all becomes overpower- 
ingly complex; we are confronted by the 
enigma of intellect, of destiny, will, aim, 
means, causes ; the incomprehensible or- 
ganisation of the most insignificant act 
of life. 
[rir] 
Our hive, then, is preparing to swarm ; 
making ready for the great immolation to 
the exacting gods of the race. In obe- 
dience to the order of the spirit — an order 
that to us may well seem incomprehen- 
sible, for it is entirely opposed to all our 
own instincts and feelings — 60,000 or 
70,000 bees out of the 80,000 or 90,000 
that form the whole population, will aban- 
don the maternal city at the prescribed 
hour. They will not leave at a moment 
of despair; or desert, with sudden and 
wild resolve, a home laid waste by famine, 
46 
