THE HONEY-BEE. 



of the lower pair gives a broad backward sweep, and 

 enables the heavy body of the drone to fly with great 

 rapidity, and to rise very freely in the air. Another 

 peculiarity of structure is the vertical enlargement of 

 the compound eyes. By the meeting of these eyes 

 over the brow, the drone is able more readily to see 

 the virgin queen when she issues for her one bridal 

 excursion. Drones have a strong odour, which 

 becomes very perceptible when several are confined 

 together in a box. Their proboscis is not fit for the 

 collection of honey ; moreover they have no recep- 

 tacle for carrying the liquid, and, in fact, show no in- 

 clination even to feed themselves from flowers. They 

 take their nourishment from what is stored in the 

 cells. As Evans accurately and concisely says of 

 them, they 



" wheel around 

 On heavier wing, and hum a deeper sound. 

 No sharpened sting they boast ; yet, buzzing loud, 

 Before the hive, in threatening circles, crowd 

 The unwieldy drones. Their short proboscis sips 

 No luscious nectar from the wild thyme's lips ; 

 From the lime's leaf no amber drops they steal, 

 Nor bear their grooveless thighs the foodful meal ; 

 On others' toils, in pampered leisure, thrive 

 The lazy fathers of the industrious hive." 



This inability to feed themselves from Nature's 

 sources makes them almost unique among the fully 

 developed creatures of the animal world. Their 

 consumption of the stores of the hive is not resented 

 by the workers till the swarming season is over, and 

 what is further remarkable is, that they are permitted 

 to enter without molestation communities other than 

 that in which they were bred, though neuters would 

 be strictly prohibited from such trespassing. 



