HISTORY AND PHYSIOLOGY. 5 



Contrary to what occurs in the human species 

 and in other parts of the animal creation, among 

 bees, the females alone exhibit activity, skill, dili- 

 gence and courage, whilst the males take no part 

 whatever in the labours of the community, but are 

 idle, cowardly and inactive, and possess not the 

 usual offensive weapon of their species. The only 

 way in which the drones promote the welfare of 

 the society is a sexual one ; and I shall endeavour 

 to show, in the course of this chapter, that they 

 serve no other purpose than that of impregnating 

 such of the young queens as may lead forth swarms 

 in the season, or be raised to the sovereignty of 

 the parent hive. As the drones are " never seen 

 settling on any kind of flowers, nor laying up 

 honey in the cells, they most probably feed at 

 home, and fully answer the description given of 

 them by the poet :" 

 " Immunisque sedens aliena ad pabula fucus." VIRGIL. 



" Their short proboscis sips 

 No luscious nectar from the wild thyme's lips, 

 From the lime's leaf no amber drops they steal, 

 Nor bear their grooveless thighs the foodful meal : 

 On others toils, in pamper'd leisure thrive 

 The lazy fathers of th' industrious hive." 

 " Yet oft, we're told, these seeming idlers share 

 The pleasing duties of parental care, 

 With fond attention guard each genial cell, 

 And watch the embryo bursting from its shell." EVANS.* 



* The elegant writer from whose unfinished poem, " The 

 Bees," I have made the above quotations, was for many 



