The Life of the Bee 
much further, and in the first stage lead 
the swarm to a considerable distance from 
the hive. The conduct of these second 
and third migrations will be far more rash, 
and their future more problematical. The 
queen at their head, the representative of 
the future, has not yet been impregnated. 
Their entire destiny depends on the ensu- 
ing nuptial flight. A passing bird, a few 
drops of rain, a mistake, a cold wind — 
any one of these may give rise to irreme- 
diable disaster. Of this the bees are so 
well aware that when the young queen 
sallies forth in quest of her lover, they 
often will abandon the labours they have 
begun, will forsake the home of a day that 
already is dear to them, and accompany 
her in a body, dreading to let het pass 
out of their sight, eager, as they form 
closely around her, and shelter her be- 
neath their myriad devoted wings, to lose 
themselves with her, should love cause 
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