132 
DRONE ORGANS. 
that in from four to six hours the entire drone population 
was driven from the hive, and so strict a guard over the 
hive was kept that not a single one could regain an 
entrance ; while with black bees the operation often 
extended over several days, causing great commotion in 
the hives.’ 
It has been supposed that drones keep up the 
temperature of the hive. We have no doubt they do 
to a certain extent, and enable worker bees to go out ; 
but considering that they are produced principally in 
summer, when they are hardly required for heat pro- 
duction, and that they consume a large quantity of 
food, it is at great expense to the colony that they 
would do this, and the same purpose could be accom- 
plished by rearing a larger number of workers. This 
is done by the bee - keeper preventing the produc- 
tion of drone brood. The queen is the life of the 
colony, and when bees swarm she leaves with them. 
The young queen, before she can lay eggs that will pro- 
duce workers, requiies to be impregnated by a drone, 
and this can only be accomplished, as we have seen, 
on the wing. It is evident if there were only a few 
drones, the chances of her meeting with one when 
out would be less than if there were a large number. 
She runs many risks when out on her wedding flight, 
which would be greatly increased if she left the hive 
frequently and returned without mating. In the dis- 
cussion above alluded to (see B. 1882, page 168), 
we said : — 
‘As far as his (Mr. Cowan’s) observations Avent, the 
fertilisation took place in the open air, and he thought it 
