The Massacre of the Males 
tuft, and a fourfold mantle, translucent 
and rigid. They create a prodigious 
stir, brush the sentry aside, overturn 
the cleaners, and collide with the for- 
agers as these return laden with their 
humble spoil. They have the busy 
air, the extravagant, contemptuous gait, 
of indispensable gods who should be sim- 
ultaneously venturing towards some des- 
tiny unknown to the vulgar. One by 
one they sail off into space, irresistible, 
glorious, and tranquilly make for the 
nearest flowers, where they sleep till the 
afternoon freshness awake them. Then, 
with the same majestic ‘pomp, and still 
overflowing with magnificent schemes, 
they return to the hive, go straight to 
the cells, plunge their head to the neck 
in the vats of honey, and fill themselves 
tight as a drum to repair their exhausted 
strength ; whereupon, with heavy steps, 
they go forth to meet the good, dreamless 
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