THE COMMON BEE A DECIDED NEUTER. 15 



has endowed the common bee with an ovarium, in which 

 no egg was ever discovered, nor which was ever known to 

 be fructified by any sexual coition, the question then na- 

 turally presents itself, for what purpose was this ovarium 

 given to the bee ? We, however, deny in the most unequi- 

 vocal manner, that any ovarium exists in the common bee ; 

 for, after the most minute and frequently repeated anato- 

 mical experiments, we never could discover the slightest 

 indication of such an organ — nor is it consistent with the 

 universal operations of nature, that an organ should be given 

 to an insect, which is not necessary for its support, and the 

 positive use of which is at variance with its individual nature. 

 If Huber, in the support of his theory, could have adduced 

 a single instance, in which the common bee exercised the 

 power of procreation — if he could have furnished us with one 

 indubitable proof of an egg ever having been discovered in 

 the ovarium of the common bee — if he could so far have 

 extended his anatomical researches, as to have discovered a 

 generating organ in the common bee — we would have 

 hailed his discoveries as most valuable adjuncts to the na- 

 tural history of the insect. We are, indeed, fully inclined 

 to admit that the existence of a neuter in animal life, par- 

 takes of the character of a direct phenomenon, and that it 

 requires proofs to substantiate its existence, amounting in 

 force to a mathematical demonstration, before the mind can 

 be induced to admit the anomaly ; nevertheless, we are au- 

 thorized, after the most extended anatomical researches and 

 a series of the most difficult experiments, to denominate the 

 common bee a decided neuter, or in other words, wholly 

 destitute of any organic power of propagating its species. 



In the investigation of this important part of the natural 

 history of the bee, the existence of the different species of 

 bees in a hive, ought to be fully established and admitted by 

 all parties as the basis of the inquiry, but even on this head, 

 the most conflicting opinions are maintained. We are 

 B 4 



