IN THE HONEY-BEE. S.3 



Leuckart closes his statements* relating to this subject), "either 

 by experiment or by direct observation, the strict proof is 

 obtained, that it is only the eggs of the female Bees that are 

 impregnated, the question as to the causality of sex in the Bees 

 remains an open one. Theoretical and other reasons may 

 henceforth induce us either to support or oppose Dzierzon, 

 and we may increase the materials for the settlement of this 

 question in an indirect way — its decision cannot possibly be 

 brought about thereby." I have in fact been able to furnish by 

 direct observation that evidence which must have been required 

 by science as alone sufficient for the establishment of Dzierzon's 

 theory. How far I may consider myself justified in this asser- 

 tion, may be ascertained from the following statements : — 



Although I knew that Leuckart was about to commence the 

 above-mentioned investigations at Seebach, I had also long before 

 undertaken to make similar investigations in the interest of 

 science. Without knowing that Leuckart had already carried out 

 his Seebach studies, and without being acquainted with the 

 results which he had obtained from them, I also went to Seebach 

 in the middle of August last year, because I was convinced 

 that such investigations could only be undertaken by the aid of 

 the abundant materials which would there stand at my command 

 by the acknowledged complaisance of Herr von Berlepsch ; I 

 certainly entertained but little hope of attaining my end, as 

 the season of the year was already too far advanced for such 

 investigations. On the 21st of August I was received by Herr 

 von Berlepsch with the assurance, calculated to inspire very little 

 courage, that I would probably find it difficult to meet with the 

 necessary material, which I required for my investigations, at 

 so late a period of the summer, and therefore that I had little 

 chance of solving the problem before me, especially as Leuckart 

 had been here at Whitsuntide, and therefore at a more favourable 

 season of the year, but had departed without attaining his object, 

 and confessed to Von Berlepsch that the questions relating 

 to Dzierzon's theory could not be solved by the microscope on 

 account of the very great difficulties which were to be overcome 

 in the investigations to be made for that purpose. Nevertheless, 



* Loc. cit. supra, p. 206. 2. 



G 2 



