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Reproduction in the Honey Bee. © 555 
Dzierzon has built his theory ; a theory, too, which has 
been supported by other distinguished observers, such 
as Baron Von Berlepsch, and which has passed, as the 
author himself expresses it, ‘“‘ the fiery ordeal of Science 
under the microscope and dissecting needle of the great 
physiologist, Professor Theodor Von Siebold, formerly 
of Breslau, now of Munich.” It is not without consider- 
able diffidence that I have ventured to put forward these 
results im opposition to the opinions of such eminent 
men; but I cannot shut my eyes to the lght of truth. 
T cannot ignore my own experiences, I must yield to 
the “ inexorable logic of facts.” I confess my inability 
to test the accuracy of that distinguished physiologsst 
in the highly difficult and delicate scientific mani- 
pulations and experiments by which he has endeavoured 
to confirm the truth of Dzierzon’s theory, and establish 
parthenogenesis in the honey-bee ; yet there are points 
in this theory which, as a practical apiarian, | am com- 
petent to examine, and it was to these chiefly that my 
attention was early directed, and with the results which 
I have in these observations submitted to the Entomolo- 
gical Society. 
How far the discovery, which I think I have made, 
may affect the doctrine of true parthenogenesis in the 
bee I will not venture to say. The power ofa virgin 
queen to lay eggs which will develop into drones, in- 
dependently of fecundation, may still remain unaffected 
by it. This may be so. Let Science be directed to a 
solution of the enigma. Scientific research must abide 
by scientific methods, scientific convictions by scientific 
investigations. There is no subject, perhaps, more diffi- 
cult, or more open to false observations and wrong 
deductions than that of reproduction ; but if the views I 
have here stated be correct, it is plain that parthenogenesis 
in the bee can receive no aid from the theory promul- 
gated by Dzierzon. é 
I confess I have been slow in believing in the power 
thus ascribed to the virgin queen, and yet I could not 
otherwise account for the conduct of certain young 
queens, and workers also, in producing drones, notwith- 
standing that, apparently, they were not impregnated. 
Of course, in thus believing, we must take for granted 
certain things; among others, that queens cannot be 
impregnated in the interior of the hive ; that retarded 
impregnation has no injurious effect; and that a queen 
