They Method of Generation. 83 
But'the fowers being but few, their firft importations 
are fo fmall and inconfiderable, that without a very clofe, 
ftri€&t, and accurate obfervation, they will eafily efcape 
our notice. Yet as the {pring comes on, and flowers; 
€¥c. increafe, their burthen becomes moe vifible. 
Now fince Bees (as confeffed on al! hands) breed not: 
till the flowers furnifh them with propet food for the 
young foetus, and they are feen to tranfport this matter 
idaily to their hives, it fhould feem that it is col'e@ted for 
no other ufe, nor devoted to any other fervice, than the 
nutrition of the young while in the ets and not as bread 
for them afterwards. 
The more of this matter they catty Bi the greatet 
numbers are produced, and the hives fill the fafter; a 
plain intimation to me that it is thus employed. 
In the midft of f{ummer, when there is the greateft 
plenty of honey, and they have not only enough for thofe 
of their own family, but for as many more, they conti- — 
nue the practice as in the fpring; a clear vindication 
(methinks) that the faid matter is purely intended for 
hourifhment to the young inthe cells, and for no other 
purpofe, nor appropriated to any other ufe. 
Mr. Rufden alfo obferves, that the more plentifully 
this matter is tranfported to their hives, the greater quan 
tity of water is carried at the fame time, without which 
they cannot breed. And as the collection of thefe two 
different materials are aflumed, fo likewife are they dif- 
continued and laid down together, 
But I have met with a late objection againft what £ 
‘am now difputing for, from a gentleman in Bucks, whe 
Fa has » 
