bees marshall themselves as they think best

An historical example of anthropomorphism in a scientist's writing:

"For bees are not rolled together pell-mell, like cells in a fruit [such as pomegranate], but marshall themselves as in line of battle, all with their heads projecting in one direction or its opposite, as they think best, all pushing in mutual support tail to tail."

Johannes Kepler

Kepler, J. (1966). A New Year's Gift. Or, on the six-cornered snowflake (C. Hardie, Trans.). Oxford University Press. (Original Latin edition, 1611)

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Author: Keith

Former school and college science teacher, teacher educator, research supervisor, and research methods lecturer. Emeritus Professor of Science Education at the University of Cambridge.