116 HUMBLE CREATUKES. 



inquiry regarding their normal shape, there now 

 exists an animated controversy^ and aU observers who 

 have time and opportunity should direct their at- 

 tention to this strange phase in insect architecture. 



The most interesting subject for the consideration 

 of naturalists and physiologists, however, is that of 

 Parthenogenesis, and the queen's power of fertUizing 

 or leaving her eggs unfertilized, so as to produce 

 either workers or drones ; and when we recollect that 

 it has but recently occupied the attention of Siebold 

 in Germany, and Owen and others in England, and 

 that the observations of any inteUigent bee-keeper 

 may serve to throw additional light upon the subject, 

 we hope this vrill be sufficient to enlist fresh volun- 

 teers in the service, who wiU aid to elucidate this 

 wonderful phenomenon, which is so strikingly illus- 

 trative of the wisdom and resources of the Creator in 

 directing the operations of animated nature. 



