NATURAL HISTORY. 83 
ee 
/ 
Ere we 
SP insects OF THE BEE, OR WASP KIND, THAT HAVE STINGS IN THEIR 
TAILS. 7 
O give a corhplete hiftory of this infect in a few pages, which 
fome ‘have exhaifted volumes in deferibiig, and. whof: na- 
Ure and properties. {till continue in difpute, is impofiible.' It will be 
fuficient to give a general idea of the animal’s operations; which, though: 
they have been fludied for more than two thoufand years, are ftill but 
‘Neompletely known. The account given us by Reaumur is fuffictently 
Inute, and, if true, fufficiently wonderful: but I find many of the facts 
Which he relates, doubted by thofe who are moft converfant with bees 5 
2nd fome of them actually declared not to have a real exiftence in nature. 
It is unhappy, therefore, for thofe whofe method demands an hiftory 
St bees, that they are unfurnifhed with thofe materials which have in- 
Uced fo many obfervers to contradict fo gteat a naturalift. His life — 
as {pent in the contemplation; and it requires an equal fhare of at- 
*ntion, to prove the error of his difcoveries.. Without entering, there- 
%re, into the difpute, I will take him for my guide; and jult mention, 
8 I go along, thofe particulars in which fiicceeding obfervers have be- 
~ 
8tn to think him erroneous. Which of the two are right, time only 
ee difcover; for my part I have only heard one fide, for as yet none 
®ve been fo bold as openly to oppofe Reaumnr’s delighttul reiearches, 
‘There are three different kinds of bees in every hive. Firft, the la- 
Curing bees, which make up the far greatef number, and are thought 
® be neither male nor female, but merely born for the purpofes of 
abour, and continuing the breed, by fupplying the young with pravi- 
(on, while yet in their helplefs Rate. The fecond fort are the drones 5 
ny are of a darker colour, longer, and more thick by one third than 
“Se former : they are fuppofed to be the males ; and there is not above 
Undred of them, in a hive of feven or eight thonfand bees. The 
a 
thing fort is much larger than either of the former, and ftill fewer in. 
fyenber: fome affert, that there is not above one in every {warm 3 but 
: 'S later obfervers affirm not to be true, there beifg fometimes five or 
~ M the fame hive. Thefe are called queen bees; and are faid to lay 
the eggs from which the whole {warm is hatched in a feafon. 
» 2 examining the ftructare of the common working bee, the firft re-. 
fre kable part that offers is the trunk, which ferves to extra& the honey » 
: Yas flowers. It is not formed, like that of other flies, in the manner 
| . tube, by which the. fluid is to he facked up; but like a, befom, to 
teen or a tongue, to lick it away. The animal is furnilned alfo with 
so which ferve it in making war. ‘This fubRance is gathered from 
tone like honey ; it contifts of that duft or farina which contribute 
. € fecundation of plants, and is moulded into wax by the little ani- 
ee at leifure.. Every bees when it leaves the hive to colle this pre- 
S tore, enters into the cup of the flower, particularly fnch as feeny 
4 mapeed with the greateit quantities of this yellow farina. fis the ani- 
ba, ody is covered over with hair, it rolis itfelf within the Hower, 
on becomes quite covered with the dull; which it foon after brufhes 
With its two hind legs, and kneads into two Httle balls. In the’ 
AJ 
