Their Sex, &c. 89 
ration; contending for them .as the Fa- 
thers of the Family, the Parents of fo 
large a, Progeny. 
There are Objections againit this OpisoH; 
and fome of them of fuch Weight, that I 
cannot give into their Way of ‘Thinking. 
“ 
‘Firft, becaufe it appears to me an Affertion 
without Proof, a Principle which wants fuf- 
ficient Evidence for it’s Support ; all that 
thefe Gentlemen have been able hitherto to 
advance in it's Vindication and Defence, 
amounting to no more than probable Con- 
jeCture and {trong Prefumption. 
Thus have they left us much in the Dark, 
and at the greateft Uncertainty, freely and 
unanimoufly confeffing that no Man ever yet 
faw any fuch Thing as Copulation among 
them. Which is the Argument Ari/otle 
urges againft this Method of Procreation. 
In. the dark Hives indeed it muft be ex- 
ceeding difficult, if not impoffible, to make 
any fuch Difcaveries ; 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 con- 
ftant, diligent, {trict and curious. Obferva- 
tion, fhould be able at any Time to difcern 
ii, efpecially fince the Invention of tranfparent 
Boxes, or Glafs Hives, which give us the 
favourable Opportunity of viewing them at 
all Seafons, not only when the Boxes are 
But 
full of Bees, but when almoft deftitute 
