- Oftheir Sex, &eo €9 
with the fentiments of many of thefe authors ; and leave 
_ the diligent and ingenious reader to judge for himfelf, 
and adhere to what he apprehends approaches neareft to 
the truth, 
Several writers are publick advocates for the Drones, 
afcribing to them a principal power and agency in the 
work of generation ; contending for them as the fathers 
of the family, the parents of fo large a progeny. 
There are objections againft this opinion; and fome 
of them of fuch weight, that J cannot give into their 
way of thinking. 
Firft, becaufe it appears to me an aierion without 
proof, a principle which wants fufficient evidence for it’s 
fupport; all that thefe gentlemen have been able hitherto 
to advance in it’s vindication and defence, amounting to 
no more than probable conjecture, and ftrong prefump- 
tion. 
Thus have they left us much in the dark, and at the 
oreateft uncertainty, freely and unanimoufly confeffing, 
that no mari ever yet faw any fuch thing as ; copulation 
among them. Which is the argument Ariffotle urges 
againft this method of procreation. 
In the dark -hives indeed it muft be exceeding difficult, 
if not impoflible, to make any fuch difcoveries; but it 
feems fomewhat ftrange and unaccountable » (provided 
this is the way of generation) that for fo many fucceflive 
ages, no perfon by the moft conftant, diligent, ftri@ and 
curious obfervation,; fhould be able at any time to difcern 
it, efpecially fince the invention of tranfparent boxes, or 
giafs hives, which give us the favourable opportunity 
E3 of 
