170 PERFECT SOCIETIES OF INSECTS. 



impregnation took place according to the usual law of 

 nature, and, as he supposed, within the hive*. This 

 opinion Huber has confirmed by indubitable proofs ; 

 but he further discovered that these animals pair abroad, 

 in the air, during the flight of the queen : a fact which 

 renders a large number of males necessary, to ensure 

 her impregnation in due time to lay eggs that will pro- 

 duce workers''. Huber also observed those appearances 

 which induced Debraw to adopt the opinion I mention- 

 ed just now, and was at first disposed to think them 

 real ; but afterwards, upon a nearer inspection, he dis- 

 covered that it was an illusion caused by the reflection 

 of the rays of light '^. 



In fine weather the drones, during the warmest part 

 of the day, take their flights ; and it is then that they 

 pair with the queen in mid air, the result being invaria- 

 bly the death of the drone. No one has yet discovered, 

 unless the proceedings observed by Debraw and Bon- 

 net may be so interpreted, that when in the hive they 

 take any share in the business of it, their great employ- 

 ment within doors being to eat. Their life however is 

 of very short duration, the eggs that produce drones 

 being laid in the course of April and May, and their 

 destruction being usually accomplished in the months 

 of July and August. The bees then, as M. Huber ob- 

 serves, chase them about, and pursue them to the bot- 

 tom of the hives, where they assemble in crowds. At 

 the same time numerous carcases of drones may be seen 

 on the ground before the hives. Hence he conjectured, 

 though he never could detect them engaged in this 



' Rcanm. v. .i03— '' lliiber, i. 21 — " Iltiil. '^7 — 



