Account of the Drone Bee. 69 
fo great, that the bees have too much of it; 
and, therefore, often ly out in the fore part of 
their hive to, get air. It is therefore plain, 
that they need not be at the expence of main- 
taining a parcel of idle gluttons, for the fake 
of increafing what. would do them more harm 
than good. 
That the Queen ftands in no need of their 
affiftance to fecundate or impregnate her, has 
already been obferved, and appears plain, from 
this confideration, that fhe lays eggs, which pro- 
duce young bees, without having had any pre- 
vious communication with the drones. I will 
not, however, fuppofe that the drones are of 
no ufe in the hive; but that the Queen lays 
eggs which produce young bees, without fo 
much as feeirig a drone, I can. with the utmoft 
confidence affirm, 
The advocates for the old doétrine, that 
the drones are males, alledge, that they im- 
pregnate the Queen, before their brethren 
kill them. According to this theory, fhe fhould 
continue for no lefs a period than feven or 
eight months, with about 12,000 impregnated 
eggs in her ovarium, which would certainly 
make her appear very large during the whole 
of that period: But it is unneceflary to wafte 
arguments 
