INHABITANTS OF THE HIVE. 



III. But besides the one queen and the many 

 workers, there are the drones, which — as was men- 

 tioned — are only to be found in the hive in the summer 

 months ; and of these there are, perhaps, 500, or 

 sometimes as many as 2000 or 30CX). 



Look at the illustration of the drone — page 36 — 

 and you will notice that it is altogether a larger bee 

 than the workers, and of different shape — very stout, 

 broad, and bulky, and that its wings are large. These 

 drones are the male bees of the hives and a very idle 

 set they are, not at all deserving the name of ' bus)' 

 bees.' To hear their loud hum, and the noise they 

 make as they fly out on some sunny day, one might 

 think they were doing a great deal ; but if we go to 

 the flowers we shall not find them thei-c. In fact, 

 they never do any real work, and are such helpless 

 bees that they do not even get food for themselves, 

 but live upon what the workers bring home. Shaks- 

 peare rightly calls them 



' The lazy, yawning drone.' 



They are, I think, very like many people who make a 

 great fuss and loud boasting, and try to attract atten- 

 tion, and yet do not really do half so much work as 

 those who make no pretence but go about their work, 

 whatever it is, quietly and steadily, without noise or 

 boasting. 



' Buzzing loud. 

 Before the hive, in threat'ning circles, crowd 

 The unwieldy drones. Their short proboscis sips 

 No luscious nectar from the wild thyme's lips ; 

 On others' toils, in pamper'd leisure thrive 

 The lazy fathers of th' industrious hive.' 



Evans. 



