96 THE HISTORY OF BEES. 
- Tho’ J allow a prolifick virtue in his fpermy matter, 
yet furely fome nutriment or other is of abfolute necefhi- 
ty to it’s improvement and perfection. 
Certain it is, whatever that worthy divine has pub- 
lifhed to the contrary, that thofe of the royal race are. 
generated in the fame manner with the Commons and 
the Drones, tho’ in cells appropriated to themfelves. 
And that in thofe cells they are nourifhed by a very fe=— 
Iec&t and peculiar matter gathered by the Commons, 
What the faid matter is, or whence it is gathered, is not 
eafy to determine, Yet that it is really peculiar, and 
very different from that grofs matter, which is employ- 
ed in nourifhing the other young, I cannot but conclude 
from what I have found, and taken out of the royal cells, 
of a very different kind and quality ; being of a gummy; 
glutinous nature ; of a deep red, tranfparent ; and would 
rather diflolve and melt in the fire, than crumble to 
powder. | | % 
But that this matter is put into thofe matrixes’ firft, 
and the fperm of the King-Bee injected afterwards, ac- 
cording to Mr. Rufden, J take to be an error, * 
One thing here feems not fo eafily to be underftood, 
namely, how the matter thus prepared for the nutrition 
of the royal foetus, and formed into a proper liquid, 
fhould be retained in thofe orbicular cells, being built 
perpendicular, and the mouths pointing, and hanging 
down direétly towards the ftool or floor ; turning up an 
hive full of combs, thefe royal pavillions will immedi- 
ately prefent themfelves, appearing in the form and pofi- 
tion 
* Mr, Rufden, p. F4 =? 
