BOOK XI. XVI. 46-49 



XVI. There has been a great deal of minute ReproducHon 

 enquiry among the learned as to the manner in "JaHmsviews 

 which bees reproduce their species ; for sexual <" to. 

 intercourse among them has never been observed. 

 A majority of authorities have held the view that 

 the offspring are formed in the mouth, by blending 

 together blossoms of the reed and the oHve ; some 

 think it is by copulation with a single male which in 

 each swarm is called the king ; and that this is the 

 only male, and is of exceptional size, so as not to 

 grow weary ; and that cousequently offspring is not 

 produced without him, and the rest of the bees 

 accompany him as women accompany a husband, 

 not as their leader. This view, though probable Seiectimi oj 

 on other grounds, is refuted by the production of ■'^"""'* *^"**' 

 drones ; for what reason can there be why the same 

 act of union should engender some perfect offspring 

 and others imperfect ? The former opinion would 

 be nearer to the truth, were it not that again another 

 difficulty meets us : it is a fact that sometimes larger 

 bees are born in the extremities of the combs which 

 drive away all the rest. This mischievous creature is Varietieso/ 

 called a gadffy— being born in what possible manner if "^^p""^- 

 the female bees themselves shape it ? One certain 

 fact is that they sit on their eggs in the way that hens 

 do. The ofFspring hatched at first looks likea white 

 maggot, lying crosswise and sticking so closely to 

 the wax that it seems to be part of it. The king is 

 from the start of the colour of honey, as if made 

 from a special blossom chosen out of the whole 

 supply, and is not a maggot but has wings from the 

 start. The remaining throng when they begin to 

 take shape are called pupae, while the sham ones " are 

 ealled sirens or drones. If anybody takes the heads 



461 



