The Drone 133 



line courage, even though he lacks weapons to make it 

 effective. 



He will thrust his short tongue into a drop of honey 

 given him, though he much prefers running to one of his 

 sisters and getting her to feed him, which she is usually 

 perfectly willing to do. 



Like the queen, he is devoid of pollen-digesting glands, 

 and thus all his hfe he is partly dependent upon his sisters 

 for food. 



He appears just before the swarming season as a rule, 

 and there may be hundreds, or even thousands, raised in 

 one hive. 



Since each queen mates but once, and consequently only 

 one drone is necessary to every swarm, the question arises 

 as to why so many are produced. 



Doubtless for two reasons, — that no time may be lost when 

 a queen flies abroad, and that cross-fertilization may at least 

 occasionally be insured. 



The meeting between the queen and the drone takes 

 place high in the air, and it is essential that the queen 

 remain abroad as short a time as possible. Being large 

 and conspicuous, she is in danger of falling a prey to insect- 

 eating birds, or she may be blown into streams, or carried 

 away by the wind and lost. 



For these reasons it is also desirable that she be not 

 obliged to fly forth more than once, as she assuredly will, 

 if not successful in finding a mate the first time. On 

 sunny days the drones fly abroad in the middle of the day, 

 the time when the young queens go forth. 



As soon as a queen takes flight, any drones that chance 

 to be near follow. And now is explained the cause of the 

 drone's splendid sense endowment and of his large strong 

 wings. AU of his superior equipment is needed to help 

 liim in the race. The victory is to tlie best, and thus are 

 transmitted to posterity the qualities of the best. 



