loo Characteristics of Drone Bees. 



anything that conspires against, or tends to intercept, the 

 action of these principles, becomes an enemy to the bees. 

 All are interested, and doubtlsss more united than is gen- 

 erally believed, in a desire to promote the free action of these 

 principles. No doubt the principle of antagonis 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 col- 

 ony demands that such worthless vagrants should be exter- 

 minated. How relentlessly the bees drag out even the 

 worker-bees that have become loaded with the pollen 

 masses of milk-weed. Such bees are of no more use, and 

 useless members are not tolerated in the bee community. 

 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 in- 

 consistent, 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 

 harmonious. 



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. Their 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, and often thousands in each col- 

 ony. The number may and should be greatly reduced by 

 the apiarist. The drones ( Fig. 39 ) 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 work- 

 ers, ahd are easily recognized, when flying, by their loud, 

 startling hum. As in other societies, the least useful make 

 the most noise. This loud hum would seem to be caused 

 by the less rapid vibration of their large, heavy wings. 



