62 THE HISTORY OF BEES. 
4males-and'the Drones males; becaufe nature never gives 
females ‘weapons to defend’ themfelves 'withal;’ but' the 
Drones are without weapons, -having no flings, and are 
abfolutely under the dominion of | the females. And 
that they fhould procreate by generation is as  dnpeelig- 
bles no man having ever feen it. lily 
“Fhe Drones then are natives, not ftrangets or foreign- 
ers, and bred in the hive, as are the other two; but in 
cells purpofely prepared for them, by the commons, and 
more {pacious than the other cells, in which ci Honey 
Bees are bred. 
«Now, as fome fuppofe, fuch indolent members 
<¢ would never be fuffered in a ftate fo remarkable for 
%¢ conduct and ceconomy, if they were not appointed 
*6 and referved for fome fervice or other.*” I praceed 
next to enquire, what is their peculiar province or ems. 
ployment. 
Of their Sex, &c. 
VARIOUS are the opinions of learned authors, as to 
their fex, and manner of procreation ; and they are great- 
ly divided in their fentiments. 
~ It has been a controverfy in all paft ages of the world, 
and is difputed in the prefent age, whether in ftrictnefs 
“they are male or female; or confift of both, and propa« 
gate their fpecies, as do other infects, by copulation : 
and if fo, which is the male, and which the female, 
“) And fo many difficulties occur in enquiries of this na- 
A : ture, 
© Nat, Delin, 
