80 
BREEDING. 
drones will be reared, causing a useless expenditure 
of honey, &c. 
OTIIER THEORIES. 
Theories differing materially from the foregoing, 
are advanced by nearly all writers. One says, “ In 
spring the queen lays about 2,000 eggs of males, re- 
sumes it again in August, but during the rest of the 
intervals she exclusively lays worker eggs. The 
queen must be at least eleven months old before she 
begins to lay the eggs of males.” Mr. Townly makes 
the same assertion. Dr.' Bevan says, “ the great lay- 
ing of drone eggs usually commences about the end 
of April.” Another author repeats about the same, 
and appears to have investigated farther, as he has 
found out that the eggs for the two kinds of bees are 
germinated separately, and the queen knows when 
each kind is ready, as well as the workers, &c. Now, 
I beg leave to differ a little from these authors. Either 
there exists no difference in the eggs germinated, and 
any, or all will produce ’ drones or workers, just as 
they happen to be deposited and fed; or else the 
periods of laying drone eggs arc much more frequent 
than any writer with which I am acquainted has been 
willing to allow. 
SUBJECT NOT UNDERSTOOD. 
I am not anxious to establish a new theory, but to 
get at facts. If we pretend to understand natural his- 
tory, it is important that we have it correct ; and if we 
do not understand it, say so, and leave it open for 
further investigation. It is my opinion that we know 
