124- PERFECT SOCIETIES OF INSECTS. 



There are two descriptions of males — one not bigger 

 than the workers, supposed to be produced from a male 

 egg laid in a worker's cell. The common males are 

 much larger, and will counterpoise two workers. 



cated. The labrum or upper-lip is fulvous; and the anteitnce are 

 piceous. 



In the trunJc, the tegulce or scales that defend the base of the wings 

 are rufo-piceous. The wings reach only to the tip of the third abdo- 

 minal segment. The iarsi and the apex of the tibice are rufo-fulvous. 

 The posterior tibice are plane above and covered with short adpressed 

 hairs, having neither the corbicula (or marginal fringe of hairs for 

 carrying the masses of pollen) nor the pecten ; and the posterior 

 plantcB have neither the brush formed of hairs set in strias, nor the 

 auricle at the base. 



The abdomen is considerably longer than the head and trunk taken 

 together, receding from the trunk, elongato-conical, and rather sharp 

 at the anus. The f/or^a/ segments are fulvous at the tip; covered 

 with very short, pallid, and, in certain lights, shining adpressed hairs ; 

 the first segment being very short, and covered with longer hairs. 

 The ventral segments, except the anal, which is black, arefulvescent 

 or rufo-fulvous, and covered with soft longer hairs. The vagina of 

 the spicula (commonly called the sting) is curved. 



ii. Tiie Alale bee, or drone, is quite the reverse of his royal para- 

 mour; his body being thick, short, and clumsy, and very obtuse at 

 each extremity *. It is covered also, as to the Jiead and trunk, with 

 dense hairs. 



The head is depressed and orbicular. The tongue is shorter and 

 more slender than that of the female ; and the mandibles, though 

 nearly of the same shape, are smaller. The eyes are very large, 

 meeting at the back part of the head. In the space between them 

 are placed the antennce and stemniata. The former consist of four- 

 teen joints, including the radicle, the fourth and fifth being very short 

 and not easily distinguished. 



The trunk is large. The luings are longer than the body. The legs 

 are short and slender. The posterior tibicB are long, club-shaped, 

 and covered with inconspicuous hairs. The posterior plantce are 



* Virgil seems to have regarded the drone as one of the sorts of kings 

 or leaders of the bees, when he says, speaking of the latter, 



" Ille liorridiis alter 



Dcsidia, latamqiic trahens inglorius alvum." 



Georgk. iv. 1. 93. 



