RECORD: Darwin, C. R. n.d. Abstract of Miner, American bee-keepers' manual. CUL-DAR48.A13-A14. Edited by John van Wyhe (Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)

REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and edited by John van Wyhe 9.2021. RN1

NOTE: See record in the Darwin Online manuscript catalogue, enter its Identifier here. Reproduced with permission of the Syndics of Cambridge University Library and William Huxley Darwin. The volume CUL-DAR48 contains notes for Natural selection chap. 8 'Transitions of Organs'. Notes on bees' cells for origin of species theory.

Miner, T. B. 1849. American bee-keepers' manual: being a treatise on the history and domestic economy of the honey-bee embracing a full illustration of the whole subject, with the most approved methods of managing this insect through every branch of its culture, the result of many years' experience. New York: C. M. Saxton.

Darwin, C. R. 'Miner's American bee-keepers' manual' CUL-DAR48.B20.

[A13]

Miners American Bee Keepers' Manual 1849

p. 62 says he has observed that Bees both sting & "cut the cords of their wings" so that they cannot fly.

p. 75 The old Queen accompanies swarm, & not more than 1/1000 swarms send forth new swarm, in which case Drones wd be necessary to fertilise a new Queen, yet the old Queen always lays drones eggs & the larvae are destroyed - In Hive of 8000 Bees suppose about 400 drones, yet sometimes a Hive has 1000 another equally strong only 500. Queen must return to Hive soon & so requires to be fertilised without loss of time in air yet this does not make contrivance less wasteful.

[A14]

Miner's American Bee Keepers' Manual 1849

p 78 says there is division of labour wax-workers, yet sculptors nursing -bees, & honey gatherers, but no difference in structure

p 80 thus proved, remove Hive, when Bees hard at work, so that the gatherers cannot find it, & the wax-workers or sculptors will hardly ever leave Hive for first day or two, for they are awaiting wax, then a new division of labour commences & the gathering is resumed with lessened numbers, But [illeg] there must have been some gatherers in Hive. Yet I must throw doubt on Huber's statement

Ch. 8

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Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)

File last updated 17 October, 2023