The Young Queens 
the mother. That may not be more as- 
tounding, perhaps, than a thousand other 
and analogous phenomena; and, indeed, 
when we consider these problems, and 
more especially those of generation, the 
marvellous and the unexpected confront 
us so constantly — occurring far more fre- 
quently, and above all in far less human 
fashion, than in the most miraculous fairy 
stories —that after a time astonishment 
becomes so habitual with us that we almost 
cease to wonder. The fact, however, is 
sufficiently curious to be worthy of notice. 
But, on the other hand, how shall we 
explain to ourselves the aim that nature 
can have in thus favouring the valueless 
drones at the cost of the workers who are 
so essential? Is she afraid lest the fe- 
males might perhaps be induced by their 
intellect unduly to limit the number of 
their parasites, which, destructive though 
they be, are still necessary for the preser- 
271 
