98 TWO SPECIES OF DRONES. 



is by far too systematic in her operations to endow an 

 insect with a certain faculty, on which the continuation of its 

 species depends, and yet, that the increase of its species will 

 still proceed, whether that faculty be put in execution or not. 

 No faculty whatever is given to animals, nor to insects, 

 which has not some positive relation to their support or 

 propagation, otherwise there would be a direct waste of 

 power, which is a complete denial of the wisdom and good- 

 ness of the Creator. 



It was the opinion of Reaumur and Debraw, that there 

 were two species of drones in the same hive, some large and 

 others smaller, the latter, however, preponderating in number. 

 According to the former naturalist, the destination of the 

 former was to be the fathers of the queens, and the drones 

 of the first class, and the latter to be the parents of the com- 

 mon bees, as well as the drones of their own species. Huber 

 has also asserted the existence of large and little drones, but 

 not knowing in what particular department of the hive to 

 employ the latter, he wisely conjectured that they were a 

 kind of abortion, which the community of the bees got rid 

 of, as soon as an opportunity presented itself. 



If by any accident or untoward event, a hive be deficient 

 in drones, the fecundation of the eggs of the queen does not 

 take place, and consequently no swarms are produced. 

 Whenever this is proved to be the case, the adoption of the 

 following plan will be found of great service. Watch at the 

 entrance of one of your most populous hives, from the hours 

 of eleven to two, being the usual time when the drones 

 take their periodical flight, and as they come out or return, 

 catch about thirty or forty of them, and not having any 

 sting, no danger awaits this operation : confine them in a 

 bottle, or other close vessel, until the evening, when they may 

 be introduced to their new habitation. The hive will most 

 readily receive them, the eggs will be fecundated, and, if at 

 an early season of the year, a good swarm may be expected. 



