The Life of the Bee 
universe would probably have presented. 
an enigma less incomprehensible, less 
pitiable, than the one we are striving to 
solve. But our consciousness, and the 
interest we take in existence, must grap- 
ple, not with what might have been, but 
with what is. 
Around the virgin queen, and dwelling 
with her in the hive, are hundreds of ex- 
uberant males, forever drunk on honey ; 
the sole reason for their existence being 
one act of love. But, notwithstanding 
the incessant contact of two desires that 
elsewhere invariably triumph over every 
obstacle, the union never takes place in 
the hive, nor has it been possible to bring 
about the impregnation of a captive queen.’ 
1 Professor McLain has recently succeeded in caus- 
ing a few queens to be artificially impregnated; but 
this has been the result of a veritable surgical opera- 
tion, of the most delicate and complicated nature. 
Moreover, the fertility of the queens was restricted 
and ephemeral. 
296 
