224 THE I1IVK AND HONEY-BEE. 



the Fall. At this season, or as soon as forage fails, such 

 stocks may usually be detected by the incessant attempts 

 of other colonies to rob them. 



The neglect of a colony to expel its drones, when they 

 are destroyed in other hives, is always a suspicious sign, 

 and generally an indication that it has no queen. Healthy 

 stocks almost always destroy the drones, as soon as 

 forage becomes scarce. In the vicinity of Philadelphia, 

 there were only a few days in June, 1858, when it did not 

 rain, and in that month the drones were destroyed in most 

 of the hives. When the weather became more propitious, 

 others were bred to take their place. In seasons when 

 the honey-harvest has been abundant and long protracted, 

 I have known the drones to be retained, in Northern 

 Massachusetts, until the 1st of November. If bees could 

 gather honey and could swarm the whole year, the 

 drones would probably die a natural death. 



The importance of preventing the over-production of 

 drones has been corroborated by the discovery of Mr. P. 

 J. Mahan, that those leaving the hive have quite a large 

 drop of honey in their stomachs while those returning 

 from their pleasure excursions, having digested their 

 dinners, are prepared for a new supply.* 



" The drone," says quaint old Butler, " is a gross, sting- 

 less bee, that spendeth his time in gluttony and idleness. 

 For howsoever he brave it, with his round velvet cap, his 

 side gown, his full paunch, and his loud voice, yet is he 

 but an idle companion, living by the sweat of others' brows. 



* Aristotle (History of Animals, Book IX., Chap. XI.), speaks of the irregular 

 and thick combs built by some stocks, and the superabundance of drones issuing 

 from thorn. He notices, also, the destruction of the drones when bee-forage fails, 

 and describes their excursions as follows : "The drones, when they go abroad, rise 

 into the air with a circular flight, as though to take violent exercise, and when they 

 have taken enough, return home, and gorge themselves with honey." Colnmella 

 says, that the proper time for removing the surplus honey is when the bees expel 

 the drones. 



