82 PHYSIOLOGY OF THE HONEY-BEE. 



in a dried state, adhering so iirmly to her body, that it 

 oould not be removed without tearing her to pieces. 



Pig. 32. 

 THE ORGANS OF THE DRONE. 

 (Magnifled. From Girard . ) 

 a, a, testicles; b,h, mueons glands; ■-, seminal duct; d, part in which the 

 spermatophore is formed; e, 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. As a 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- 



