Account of the Drone Bee. hy i 
I muft confefs, it appears fomewhat para- 
doxical, to fay that females will breed fuccefs- 
fully for feveral generations without the affift- 
ance of the males; and yet at laft prove bar- 
ren, and give over breeding altogether, till their 
_ prolific powers are renewed by frefh males co- 
habitating with them, But however paradox- 
ical or unaccountable it may appear, that is 
not a fufhcient reafon for us to reprobate the 
fuppofition ; as there are many of the arcana 
of nature that are equally wonderful and unac- 
countable, and the elucidation of which has 
hitherto baffled the inveftigation of the moft 
penetrating geniufes, and deepeft enquirers in- 
to the fecrets of natural philofophy. 
One of the above-mentioned gentlemen de-' 
fired me to try an experiment, and endeavour 
to afcertain the faét, whether the want of 
drones will occafion a gradual barrenefs to take 
place in a fucceffion of Queens. My anfwer 
was, that I had long entertained an idea of a 
plan, whereby I am perfuaded that I could dive 
into, and probably difcover this feeret of Na- 
ture; but that the execution would both re- 
quire time, and be attended with a confidera- 
ble degree of expence, by the lofs of many 
hives, which at prefent I do not find myfelf 
, inclined 
