106 Function of Drones, 
The function of the drones is solely to impregnate the 
queen, though when present they add to the heat of the 
hive. Yet for this they were far better replaced by worker 
bees. That their nutrition is active, is suggested. by the 
fact that, upon dissection, we usually find their capacious 
honey-stomachs filled with honey. 
Impregnation of the queen always takes place, as before 
stated, while on the wing, outside the hive, usually during 
the heat of a warm, sunshiny day. After mating, as before 
suggested, the drone organs adhere to the queen, and may 
be seen hanging to her for some hours. The copulatory 
act is fatal to the drone. By holding a drone just returned 
from a long flight in the hand, the ejection of the sex-organs 
is often produced and is always followed by immediate 
death. As the queen only meets a single drone, and that 
only once, it might be asked why nature was so improvident 
as to decree hundreds of drones to an apiary or colony, 
whereas a score would suffice as well. Nature takes cog- 
nizance of the importance of the queen, and as she goes 
forth amidst the myriad dangers of the outer world, it is 
safest and best that her stay abroad be not protracted, that 
the experience be not repeated, and, especially, that her 
meeting a drone be ot delayed. Hence the super-abun- 
dance of drones—especially under natural conditions, isola- 
ted in forest homes, where ravenous birds are ever on the 
alert for insect game—is most wise and provident. Nature 
is never “penny wise and pound foolish.” In our apiaries 
the need is wanting, and the condition, as it exists in nature, 
is not enforced. Again, close impregnation or in-byeeding, 
which is not conducive to animal vigor is thus prevented, 
where otherwise it would be necessary and always the 
practice. The Rev. Mahin thinks that mating is accom- 
plished at long distances from the hives, and that drones 
gather in certain places as do male bumble-bees, there to 
await the coming queen. 
The fact that parthenogenesis prevails in the production 
of drones, has led to the theory that from a pure queen, 
however mated, must ever come a pure drone. My own 
experience and observation, which have been very extended 
and under circumstances most favorable for a correct judge- 
