The Drones. 79 



supernumeraries. It is very doubtful if emotion and senti- 

 mentality are ever moving forces among the lower animals. 

 There are probably certain natural principles that govern in 

 the economy of the hive, and anything that conspires against, 

 or tends to intercept, the action of these principles, becomes 

 an enemy to the bees. All are interested, and doubtJess more 

 united than is generally believed, in a desire to promote the 

 free action of these principles. No doubt the principle of an- 

 tagonism among the various bees has been overrated. Even 

 the drones, when they are being killed off in the autumn, 

 make a sickly show of defense, as much as to say, the welfare 

 of the colony demands that such worthless vagrants should be 

 exterminated. The statement that there is often serious 

 antagonism between the queen and workers, as to the destruc- 

 tion or preservation of inchoate queens, yet in the cell, is a 

 matter which may well be investigated. It is most probable 

 that what tends most for the prosperity of the colony is well 

 understood by all, and without doubt there is harmonious 

 action among all the denizens of the hive to foster that which 

 will advance the general welfare, or to make war on whatever 

 may tend to interfere with it. If the course of any of the 

 bees seems wavering and inconsistent, we may rest assured 

 that circumstances have changed, and that could we perceive 

 the bearing of all the surrounding conditions, all would appear 

 consistent and onious. 



THE DRONES. 



These are the male bees, and are generally found in the 

 hive only from May to November; though they may remain 

 all winter, and are not infrequently absent during the sum- 

 mer. Theicv presence or absence depends on the present and 

 prospective condition of the colony. If they are needed, or 

 likely to be needed, then they are present. There are in 

 nature several hundred in each colony. The number may 

 and should be greatly reduced by the apiarist. The drones 

 (Fig. 19) are shorter than the queen, being less than three- 

 fourths of an inch in length, are more robust and bulky than 

 either the queen or workers, and are easily recognized when 

 flying by their loud, startling hum. As in other societies, the 

 least useful make the most noise. This loud hum is caused 

 by the less rapid vibration of their large, heavy wings, >Their 



