PERFECT SOCIETIES OF INSECTS. 173 
some proceedings that he witnessed, was convinced that 
impregnation took place according to the usual law of 
nature, and, as he supposed, within the hive*. ‘This opi- 
nion Huber has confirmed by indubitable proofs; but 
he further discovered that these animals pair abroad, in 
the air, during the flight of the queen: a fact which ren- 
ders a large number of males necessary, to ensure her 
impregnation in due time to lay eggs that will produce 
workers’. Huber also observed those appearances which 
induced Debraw to adopt the opinion I mentioned just 
now, and was at first disposed to think them real; but 
afterwards, upon a nearer inspection, he discovered that 
it was an illusion caused by the reflection of the rays of 
lng htss | 
In fine weather the drones, during the warmest part 
of the day, take their flights; and it is then that they 
pair with the queen in mid air, the result being invaria- 
bly the death of the drone. No one has yet discovered, 
unless the proceedings observed by Debraw and Bonnet 
may be so interpreted, that when in the hive they take 
any share in the business of it, their great employment 
within doors being to eat. ‘Their life however is of very 
short duration, the eggs that produce drones being laid 
in the course of April and May, and their destruction 
being usually accomplished in the months of July and 
August. The bees then, as M. Huber observes, chase 
them about, and pursue them to the bottom of the hives, 
where they assemble in crowds. At the same time nu- 
merous carcases of drones may be seen on the ground 
before the hives. Hence he conjectured, thongh he 
2 Reaum. v. 503— b Huber, 1. 24— ¢ Tbid. 37— 
