THE HONEY-BEE AND ITS THREE CLASSES. 11 



but farther, he never could ascertain. The passages to which I 

 allude are not very creditable to the royal character, from whom 

 De Reaumur states all the advances came, while the Drones ap- 

 peared cold, distant, and to prefer being let alone, destitute of 

 all gallantry, and thoroughly justifying their name. 



The celebrated Huber, whose reiterated experiments and 

 close observation entitle him to the greatest confidence, is of 

 opinion that actual intercourse does take place, not, however, 

 while the parties are in the hive, but during their flight in the 

 air. This also satisfactorily explains the reason why the number 

 of drones in each hive is so great, viz., in order that the queen- 

 bee may have the greater likelihood of meeting with a consort 

 when on the wing ; it is also probable that the drones perform 

 some yet unexplained functions relative to the young or larvae. 

 The late Mr. Nutt coincided with Mr. Huber in this opinion, 

 while at the same time he expressed his conviction that this will 

 ever remain a debateable point. Mr. Huber, likewise, was of 

 opinion that the Queen, once impregnated, remained so during 

 her life ; and that as she exists for some years, the Drones are 

 called into existence for the purpose of fecundating the young 

 Queens, or supernumeraries — insects kept as it were in reserve — 

 lest she which first comes forth should prove sterile, or meet 

 with any casualty. During the working season, especially the 

 months of May, June, and July, when the working bees are con- 

 tinually absent from the hive, the presence of the Drones is per- 

 haps requisite for some offices they may render the larvae ; but 

 whether they are spared for that purpose, or are, contrary to 

 Huber's opinion, still requisite for the impregnation of the Queen, 

 I am not prepared to say ; but the fact remains the same, that 

 at the end of summer they are ignominiously expelled the hive, 

 and even slain by the workers, as if they, being of no longer any 

 utility to the community, should not be fed from the store during 

 winter, and were killed to avoid this unnecessary waste. This 

 destruction usually takes place in August or the end of July. 



During summer, the Drones remain dispersed through differ- 

 ent parts of the hive, but towards its close they assemble to- 

 gether in companies, as if preparing for their impending fate, 

 which they await in patience, or rather, perhaps, in motion- 

 less lethargy. When the attack commences, they resist 

 to their utmost ; from the number of their executioners, how- 



