A full discovery of bees. Treating of the nature, government, generation & preservation of the bee. With the experiments and improvements, arising from the keeping them in transparent boxes, instead of straw-hives. Also proper directions (to all such as keep bees) as well to prevent their robbing in straw-hives, as their killing in the colonies.The second edition, by Moses Rusden, an apothecary; bee-master to the King's most excellent Majesty. Published by His Majesties especial command, and approved by the Royal Society at Gresham Coll.

CHAP. IV.

Of the Drone Bee.

THE third sort of Bees are the Drones, which are the largest Bees in an Hive, having eyes, head, wings, body and leggs all proportionable to their magnitude, and two moveable wreathed horns growing out toge∣ther between their eyes, but extending like a fork; their tails are obtuse and large at the end; their colour brown; they have neither stings nor fangs, which is the reason they are so easily beaten and killed by the Honey-Bees, having no weapons offensive or defensive.

They are of such use in the Hive for hatch∣ing

the young brood in the Summer time, especially when honey-dews fall, that no Colo∣ny or Stock can well thrive without them; for they are as Servants or Nurses under the Ho∣ney-Bees, to help hath up the young brood, whilst the other are broad at their labours; as I shall further shew when I come to the generation of Bees; and their bodies be∣ing large, they cover the more room with the smaller numbers.