APPEARANCE OF DRONE-BEES. 123 



to this effect. We wonder whether he had watched them 

 engaged in this aqueous exercise, and what kind of vessels 

 they used when employed as water-carriers. 



APPEARANCE OF DRONE-BEES. 



Dr. Bevan, as well as other English authors, tell us 

 that drones make their appearance in April. But the 

 time varies very much, according to the season or the 

 strength of the stocks. We have several years seen them 

 in April ; in other years their appearance has been delayed 

 until May. Bevan also says, " the laying of drone eggs, 

 which is called the great laying, usually commences at the 

 end of April or the beginning of May." From the time 

 of the egg being laid by the queen, to the time of the per- 

 fect insect leaving the cell, is exactly twenty-four days ; 

 by bearing this in mind, the time when the great laying 

 takes place may easily be calculated in every apiary. We 

 are disposed to think Dr. Bevan is correct in respect to 

 the mass of drone-eggs being laid. 



MASSACRE OF THE DRONES. 



Many opinions prevail amongst bee-keepers as to the 

 cause and manner in which drones are destroyed. It is 

 well known that after the swarming, or rather when the 

 honey-harvest begins to fail about the end of July or in 

 August, a general massacre takes place. The first indica- 

 tion of this slaughter is casting out the baby drones to 

 perish. Bevan remarks upon this subject — " The work 

 of the drones being now completed, they are regarded as 

 useless consumers of the fruits of others' labours, love is at' 

 once converted into hate, and a general proscription takes 

 place. The unfortunate victims evidently perceive their 



