THE BEE. 101 



veloped male Bees. This fact has been repeatedly 

 confirmed by observation and experiment; and al- 

 though it rarely occurs, and may therefore be re- 

 garded as the exception that proves the rule with 

 which it is at variance (namely, that a union of the 

 sexes must take place before another of the same 

 species can be produced), yet it suffices to derange 

 our preconceived views in regard to what we call the 

 infaUible laws of nature, and affords another striking 

 evidence of the Creator's power, and the infinitude of 

 His resources. 



In the Mollusca and some of the lowest animal 

 forms, we often find the two sexes united in one indi- 

 vidual* capable of producing young; but here we 

 have a still more wonderful manifestation of power, 

 namely, an insect of one sex, highly organized both 

 physically and mentally, bearing living young with- 

 out the cooperation of the other sex, Does this not 

 teach us in unmistakeable terms that nothing is im- 

 possible to God ? and that — 



" These lower works that swell His praise 

 High as man's thoughts can tower, 

 Are but a portion of His ways, 

 The hiding of His power " ? 



Having been thus imperceptibly led from the con- 

 sideration of the three different varieties of inmates 



* This phenomenon is found also in the Bee. In the ' Ento- 

 mologist's Annual' for 1859 there is depicted and described a 

 hermaphrodite Bee, of which one side bears all the character- 

 istic features of the male, and the other those of the female. 



