[ 546 ] 
From the curious Obfervations made by M. 
Reaumur , upon the Structure and Behaviour of the 
Queen or Mother-Bee, the Drone or Male Bee, and 
the working or Mule Bee, which is of neither Sex; 
from the Queen Bee's being fo exceedingly prolific, 
as to lay from 30 to 40000 Eggs of working Bees 
in a Seafon; beftdes the Eggs of 800 Male Bees, 
and of eight or ten Queen or Mother Bees 5 and 
from the Coldncfs of the Male Bee,- who fo long 
refifbs the Cardies of the Queen or Female Bee; and 
alfo from the indefatigable Labour and Oeconomy 
pf the working Bee, to nourifh the young Bees, 
make up the Combs, and lay in Stores of Farina 
and Honey for Winter. I think very good Rcafons 
may be given why the Queen fhould have a Seraglio 
of fome Hundreds of Male Bees; and why the work- 
ing Bee fhould deftroy the Males, when no longer 
necefiary to impregnate the Eggs of the Mother Bee. 
Ic is evident, from the Oeccnomy of the Garden 
Bee, that Providence has appointed that they fhould 
fhare their Store with Mankind, by making them 
fo induftrious in every Climate, as to provide, in 
tolerable Seafons, a Store of Honey and Wax, dou- 
ble of what is necefiary for their Subfiftence during 
the Winter, and of Combs for the Queen’s laying 
her Eggs in Spring, before new Work can be made. 
From the vaft Number of Eggs which the Queen 
lays in a Seafon, it is abfolutely necefiary that flic 
fhould have a great Store of Male Sperm, to im- 
pregnate her Eggs ; and as the Eggs are not fenfibly 
large in ,her Body for 6 Months after her Coition 
with the Males, who die, or are killed, in Augujl , 
and fhe does not begin to lay from that time till 
February 
