14 THE APIARY. 



over, — that is about the end of July,— a general massacre 

 of the " lazy fathers " takes place. Dr. Bevan, in the 

 " Honey Bee," observes on this point : " The work of the 

 drones being novif completed, they are regarded as use- 

 less consumers of the fruits of others' labour ; love is at 

 once converted into hate, and a general proscription 

 takes place. The unfortunate victims evidently per- 

 ceive their danger, for they are never at this time 

 seen resting in one place, but darting in and out of the 

 hive with the utmost precipitation, as if in fear of being 

 seized." 



Their destruction is thought, by some, to be caused by 

 their being harassed until they quit the hive ; but Huber 

 says he ascertained that the death of the drones was 

 caused by the stings of the workers. Supposing the 

 drones come forth in May, which is the average period 

 of their being hatched, their destruction takes place 

 somewhere about the commencement of August, so that 

 three months is the usual extent of their existence ; but 

 should it so happen that the usual development of the 

 queen has been retarded, or that the hive has by chance 

 been deprived of her, the massacre of the drones is 

 deferred. In any case, the natural term of the life of 

 drone-bees does not exceed four months, so that they are 

 all dead before the winter, and are not allowed to be 

 useless consumers of the general store. 



