The Swarm 
home, would appear to forget her posses- 
sion of wings; and will pursue her active 
labours, making scarcely a movement, on, 
that particular spot in the hive that her 
special duties assign. But to-day they all 
seem bewitched ; they fly in dense circles 
round and round the polished walls, 
like a living jelly stirred by an invisible 
hand. The temperature within rises 
rapidly, —to such a degree, at times, that 
the wax of the buildings will soften, and 
twist out of shape. The queen, who 
ordinarily never will stir from the centre 
of the comb, now rushes wildly, in breath. 
less excitement, over the surface of the 
vehement crowd that turn and turn on 
themselves. Is she hastening their de- 
parture, or trying to delay it? Does she 
command, or haply implore? Does this 
prodigious emotion issue from her, or is 
she its victim? Such knowledge as we 
possess of the general psychology of the 
79 
