40 NATURAL HISTOKT OF THE HONEY BEE. 



account for the effect of retarded impregnation ; and made 

 no experiments to determine the facts, as to the fecundation 

 of these fertile workers. 



Since the publication of Huber's work, more than sixty 

 years ago, no light has been shed upon the mysteries of 

 drone-laying Queens and workers, until quite recently. 

 Dzierzon appears to have been the first to ascertain the truth 

 on this subject ; and his discovery must certainly be ranked 

 as unfolding one of the most astonishing facts in all the range 

 of animated nature. This fact seems, at first view, so 

 absolutely incredible, that I should not dare mention it, if it 

 were not supported by the most indubitable evidence, and if I 

 had not determined to state all important and well ascer- 

 tained facts, without seeking, by any concealments, to pan- 

 der to the prejudices of the ignorant and conceited. 



Dzierzon advances the opinion that impregnation is not 

 needed in order that the eggs of the Queen may produce 

 drones ; but, that all impregnated eggs produce females, 

 either workers or Queens ; and all unimpregnated ones, 

 males or drones. He states that he found drone-laying 

 Queens in several of his hives, whose wings were so im- 

 perfect that they could not fly, and that on examination, they 

 proved to be unfecundated. Hence he concluded that the 

 eggs laid by the Queen Bee and fertile worker, had from 

 the previous impregnation of the egg from which they 

 sprung, sufficient vitality to produce the drone, which is a 

 less highly organized insect than the Queen or worker. It 

 had long been known, that the Queen deposits drone eggs 

 in the large or drone cells, and worker eggs in the small or 

 worker cells, and that she makes no mistakes. Dzierzon 

 inferred, therefore, that there was some way in which she 

 was able to decide as to the sex of the egg before it was 

 laidi aad that she must have a control over the mouth of the 



