64 MASSACRE OF THE MALES. 
The drone collects nothing for its 
own support, but lives entirely on the 
store which the hive affords. From 
the size of the insect, we must sup¬ 
pose that the quantity which it de¬ 
stroys is considerable. As its pre¬ 
sence, however, is requisite only for 
a certain period ; at the end of this 
time, Nature has charged the work¬ 
ers with its destruction; and the de¬ 
fenceless drone must submit to its fate. 
It is usually in the month of Au¬ 
gust that bees free themselves of the 
males. 
As to the manner in which the bee# 
kill and expell the drones 5 although 
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