BEATH OF THE DRONE VERIFIED BY REAUMUR. 101 



manner. In the interval of a quarter of an hour he appeared, 

 however, to be a little more animated ; and when the queen, 

 placed opposite to him, had with her feet pressed the head of 

 this insensible drone, and had played gently with his antenna;, 

 he at length determined to return her advances, by others of 

 the same nature. By these passionate preludes, the queen 

 at last excited the amorous desire of her indolent spouse, who 

 became more and more sprightly and active. I perceived 

 distinctly that a part of the interior organs projected from 

 the drone. This endearing behaviour lasted for two or 

 three hours, during which time they often rested, and then 

 returned to their amours. At last, the drone took rather a 

 longer sleep than was agreeable to her majesty, and she 

 used her utmost exertions to awaken him from his lethargy; 

 she teased him — she pawed — she bit him — she coaxed him; 

 all was in vain, the drone was dead !!! 



" This is not the only insect," continues Mr. Reaumur, 

 " which perishes at this critical moment. I employed my best 

 endeavours to console the widow ; I gave her another hus- 

 band, young and full of vigour ; but, to my great surprise, 

 she remained the whole of the day attached and weeping 

 over the corpse of her spouse. On the following day, the 

 corpse was removed, and a new husband presented to the 

 queen, to whom she behaved with greater civility than 

 to the former. A single night was sufficient to make 

 this Artemisa forget the mausoleum of her deceased 

 monarch." 



Travellers are proverbially noted for telling marvellous 

 stories, and they do so often without the fear of being de- 

 tected, as centuries may elapse before another person travels 

 over the same ground; but the naturalist, who wishes to esta- 

 blish his reputation for the accuracy of his observation, the 

 depth of his researches, or the profundity of his scientific 

 knowledge, should be cautious how he advances facts, pre- 

 tended to be grounded on actual observation, the verity or 



