82 PHYSIOLOGY OF THE HONEY-BEE. 
in a dried state, adhering so firmly to her body, that it 
could not be removed without tearing her to pieces. 
Fig. 32. 
THE ORGANS OF THE DRONE. 
7 (Magnified. From Girard.) 
a,a, testicles; b,), mucous glands; -, seminal duct; 7, part in which the 
spermatophore is formed; ve, hollow horns and penis; f, spermatozoids, 
much magnified. 
189. The number of drones in a hive is often very great, 
amounting not merely to hundreds, but sometimes to thous- 
ands. Asa single one will impregnate a queen for life, it 
would seem that only a few should be reared. But as sex- 
ual intercourse always takes place high up in the air, the 
young queens must necessarily leave the hive; and it is 
very important to their safety that they should be sure to 
find a drone without being compelled to make frequent ex- 
cursions; for being larger than workers, and less active on 
the wing, queens are more exposed to be caught by birds, 
or destroyed by sudden gusts of wind. 
In a large Apiary, a few drones in each hive, or the num- 
