22 PHYSIOLOGY OF THE THREE CLASSES. 



drones leave the hire in consideraoie numbers about noon, on 

 tine days, and tbe young queens make their excursions soon af- 

 ter. Whenever this service is supposed to be accomplished for 

 the season, they are relentlessly driven forth and destroyed by 

 the workers. A stock of bees that has lost its queen and failed 

 to rear another, will retain drones after all others are destroyed, 

 and frequently throughout the winter. Without drones the 

 young queens would remain barren, and the race soon become 

 extinct. The number of drones in a hive is often very large, 

 amounting to hundreds and even thousands. In a state of na- 

 ture, or where but one or two hives are kept, a greater propor- 

 tion of drones are necessary as the young queen, when making 

 her "bridal trip," should be sure of a speedy meeting, for, when 

 roaming long in search of one, she is more liable to accidents. 

 Where several colonies are kept, if each rear a few dozen drones 

 there will be enough, in the aggregate, for all practical purposes. 

 In movable comb hives all excess of drone comb should be 

 removed, and the production of useless consumers thus pre 

 vented. 



THE WORKER. 



The workers, although the most diminutive in size of the three 

 classes, are alike the wonder and admiration of the student oi 

 naf/ure. 



When we consider their unvarying God implanted instincts, 

 whether displayed in hoarding rich stores for future use, in their 

 matchless architectural skill, as seen in comb-building, or in their 

 entire devotion to the welfare of the queen and her numerous 



