on the Sex of Bees. 31 
by which, and poffibly other means as yet unknown, the 
developement and expanfion of the germ of the female 
organs, previoufly exiting in the embryos, is effected, 
and thofe differences in its form and fize are produced, 
which afterwards fo remarkably cliff inguifh the queen 
from the common working-bees. And finally it appears 
evident, from the experiments made by Mr. schirach 
and myfelf, that the received opinion, that the queen lays 
a particular kind of eggs, appropriated to the production 
of other queens, is erroneous. 1 am not a little flattered 
with the fimilarity of my difcoveries with thofe of the 
ingenious German naturalift, in proving the fex of the 
common bees ; although we fo widely differ in what re- 
lates to the ufe of the males, whom, as we have feen be- 
fore, he imagines to be quite ufelefs. I am alfo not a little 
pleafed to find, that our experiments on the production 
of a queen from a common embryo agree fo well. 
I fhall now beg leave to point out the advantage that 
may accrue to the public from thefe obfervations. 
which is that of forming artificial fwarms or new co- 
lonies; or in other words, of furnifhing the means to 
bring on a numerous increafe of thofe ufeful infects : an 
object of fome importance to this kingdom, as being 
the only means to prevent the annual exportation of con- 
fiderable fums in the purchafe of wax, a great quantity 
of 
