62 THE HISTORY OF BEES. 
males and the Drones males; becaufe nature never gives — 
females weapons to defend themfelves withal, but the 
Drones are without weapons, having no ftings, and are 
_abfolutely under the dominion of the females. And 
that they fhould procreate by generation is as improba- 
ble, no man having eyer feen it. 
The Drones then are natives, not ftrangers or foreign- 
ers, and bred in the hive, as are the other two; but in 
cells purpofely prepared for them, by the commons, and 
more fpacious than the other cells, in which the Honeye 
Bees are bred. 
ss Now, as fome fuppofe, fuch indolent members 
<¢ would never be fuffered in a ftate fo remarkable for 
<< conduct and ceconomy, if they were not appointed 
‘6 and referved for fome fervice or other.*” I proceed 
next to enquire, what is their peculiar province or em- 
ployment. 
Of their Sex, &c. 
| VARIOUS are the opinions of learned authors, as to 
their fex, and manner of procreation ; and they are great- 
ly divided in their fentiments. 
It has been a controverfy in all paft ages of the world, 
and is difputed in the prefent age, whether in ftri€tnefs 
they are male or female ; or confift of both, and propa- 
gate their fpecies, as do other infects, by copulation a 
and if fo, which is the male, and which the female. 
And fo many difficulties occur in enquiries of this na- 
en ture, 
® Nat, Deling — 

