OF their Sixj Be, 79 
why fhould thefe be any objection againft the chriftian 
religion, fo fully attefted by it’s divine author, and con= 
firmed by fo great a number of inconteftible miracles, 
which were his credentials, the evidences of his divine 
miffion, that he really came from God, and was no im- 
_poftor or deceiver? one remark more relating to the 
Drones fhall clofe this fection. 
If thefe infects (whether males or females) minifter 
nothing towards the multiplication of the fpecies ; if we 
allow them not to be the fathers of the fami! ly, the pa- 
rents of fo large a progeny: of what ufe or fervice are 
they in the ftate? as nature doth nothing in vain, it is 
but reafonable to fuppofe they have fome peculiar pro- 
vince, or office appointed for them. | 
In anfwer to which many, who have treated on this 
fubject, tell us, they are, by their numbers and bulk to- 
gether, greatly helpful in hatching up and haftening the 
young brood. | | 
But this is not without objections. Hitherto I never 
could obferve any material fervice done to hives or colo- 
lonies by their means, | 
It is certain, that feveral fets or broods 6; young Bees 
are perfected, and engaged in the ufeful and common 
labours, before any of thefe appear in the hive, or have 
an exiftence ; no Drones being produced till the latter 
‘end of April, or till AZay; many times not before Funes 
or Fuly ; nor all that fummer in poor:and weak ftocks. 
And it is a very frequent and common obfervation, 
‘and experimentally known, nottoa few, that confider- 
able numbers are hatched, and the hives well replegiie 
’ e 
