1 6 Mr. DEBjRAw’s Di/cover ies 
.acknowledge that they have never been able to detect 
■them in the act. 
pliny., who waslikewife of the fame opinion, that 
in this particular they do not differ from other animals, 
obferves, “ Jpium coitus vifus efl nunquam." Swammer- 
dam, that fagacious obferver, having never been . able to 
difco.ver it, entertained a notion, that the female or queen 
bee .was fecundated without copulation; that it w r as fuf- 
ficient for her to be near the males ; that a vivifying aura, 
•exhaling from the body of the males, and abforbed by 
•the female, might impregnate her eggs. At laft the in- 
comparable rea.umur thought he had in a great mea- 
f ure. removed the veil, and brought their manner of ge- 
nerating nearly to a proof. This part of phyfics has 
been the principal objedt of my refearches for feveral 
years paft, having been infenfibly engaged in it by the 
pleafure I took in fo curious an inquiry; and although 
this purfuit has been attended with more difficulties and 
<embaraffments than can be well imagined, I have not 
•been difcouraged, and have carefully avoided launching 
into conjectures. To introduce a new fyflem in the dod/trine 
.of bees, which in a great meafure contradicts all former 
received opinions, requires, previous to its appearance, 
; .every fandtion the various experiments, fuccelsfully re- 
peated, can poffibly give it. The refults of thofe experi- 
ments, 
