DISCOVERIES. 1% 



I beheld, in fome other boxes, royal nymphs 

 burrling open the lower end of their cells, 

 and inftantly iffuing without affiftance. 



After many efTays by various means, I 

 never could procure a complete view of an 

 intercourfe between a. queen and a drone ; but 

 have feveral times been witnefs to thofe 

 amorous preludes recorded by Reaumur. 

 By confining a queen and a drone under a 

 glafs tumbler, after fome little time the queen 

 began to carefs the drone, frequently repeat- 

 ing fuch wanton geftures as would flimulate 

 a torpedo, or any other male but a drone I 



Reaumur $ relation of this myfterious 

 affair ftates the refult of the royal embrace 

 to be the death of the drone. The drones 

 knowing, perhaps, this to be the confe- 

 quence when Jpigly employed, may be the 

 c'aufe of their extreme reluctance. This, 

 together with the violence ufed during their 

 Captivity, and the coldnefs of their fituation 

 compared to the warmth of the hive, feems 

 to account for the non-performance of that 

 which naturalifts are fo defirous of difco- 

 vering. 



I have feveral times placed two queens, 



taker* 



