The Life of the Bee 
her dupes; we ourselves, who have studied. 
her movements these centuries past, and 
with a brain more perfect than that of the 
bee, we too are her dupes, and know not 
even yet whether she be benevolent or 
indifferent, or only basely cruel. 
There where the queen has alighted the 
swarm will remain; and had she descended 
alone into the hive, the bees would have 
followed, in long black files, as soon as 
intelligence had reached them of the ma- 
ternal retreat. The majority will hasten 
to her, with utmost eagerness ; but large 
numbers will pause for an instant on the 
threshold of the unknown abode, and 
there will describe the circles of solemn 
rejoicing with which it is their habit to 
celebrate happy events. ‘‘ They are beat- 
ing to arms,” say the French peasants. 
And then the strange home will ‘at once 
be accepted, and its remotest corners 
explored; its position in the apiary, its 
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