Vil 
THE MASSACRE OF THE 
MALES 
[94] 
F skies remain clear, the air warm, and 
pollen and nectar abound in the 
flowers, the workers, through a kind of 
forgetful indulgence, or over-scrupulous 
prudence perhaps, will for a short time 
longer endure the importunate, disastrous 
presence of the males. These comport 
themselves in the hive as did Penelope’s 
suitors in the house of Ulysses. Indeli- 
cate and wasteful, sleek and corpulent, 
fully content with their idle existence as 
honorary lovers, they feast and carouse, 
throng the alleys, obstruct the passages, 
and hinder the work ; jostling and jos- 
347 
