90 NATURAL HISTORY. 



I examiued the hive in September, there were but few labourers, and a 

 great many males, but no young queens. The males have no stings. 

 The males go abroad and feed themselves ; for we find them on fruit, 

 &c, yet I could conceive that they also receive food at home ; for in 

 one hive that I brought home in September, where there were few 

 labourers, the labourers were lively and restless ; but I saw no males 

 for several days, when they became very hungry, and then they [the 

 males] came out of the hive ; but whether they carry home anything to 

 feed the maggots of the young queens, I do not know. But from an 

 experiment I made to see if they fed the young queens, I suspect so ; 

 for the males and young queens were often seen having their tongues 

 or mouths together, and raising themselves up against each other, 

 keeping themselves together with their fore-feet ; but I could not say 

 that the males were actually feeding the females. The females often 

 appear to be feeding themselves. 



Of the Male Parts. — They appear to have but one testicle, which lies 

 on the back near the middle of the abdomen ; at least if there are two, 

 which most probably there are, they are united so as to seem but one, 

 like the udders of animals : it is large, and of a quadrangular form. 

 From the lower surface, and at some distance from each other, pass two 

 small ducts towards the anus, which, when got a little way, dilate into 

 two long bags, or open into two large oblong bags. These bags pass 

 on in the same direction, and either enter into or are joined by two 

 canals or long ducts which are curved, lying on the top of the others. 

 The common duct of these two joins the corresponding duct of the two 

 of the other side, forming what may be called ' urethra.' The gut passes 

 over the testicle, and then between the two small ducts, and gets behind 

 the other side to reach the anus. The penis is a horny substance, as 

 is I believe the case with most insects, both for the purpose of con- 

 veying semen, and for holding the two parts together. The passage for 

 the semen passes in the centre of this body, and projects a little way 

 between the two holders. 



Of what becomes of Wasps after having finished their Propagation. — 

 A wasp is of that class respecting propagation in which the females live 

 through the winter, but the males die ; for I have shown that the 

 queen begins the colony in the summer, therefore she must have lived 

 all the winter. The better to enable her to do this, she is at this time 

 extremely fat, which fat is of a very pure white. I have shown that 

 the workers are first bred, with a view to be ready to assist in bringing 

 up the future workers, the males, and the females or young queens ; 

 and when that is completed, I have reason to suppose they are dying 

 away ; for in the instance of a wasp's hive which had been very strong 



