On the Threshold of the Hive 
void of memory as the happiness with- 
out alloy. 
[5] 
In order to follow, as simply as possible, 
the life of the bees through the year, we 
will take a hive that awakes in the spring 
and duly starts on its labours; and then 
we shall meet, in their natural order, ali 
the great episodes, viz.: the formation 
and departure of the swarm, the founda- 
tion of the new city, the birth, combat 
and nuptial flight of the young queens, the 
massacre of the males, and finally, the 
return of the sleep of winter. With each 
of these episodes there will go the neces- 
sary explanations as to the laws, habits, 
peculiarities and events that produce and 
accompany it; so that, when arrived at 
the end of the bee’s short year, which 
extends only from April to the last days 
ef September, we shall have gazed upon 
23 
