88 INSECT MISCELLANIES. 



place he says, ^ Bees make a noise by the motion of 

 their wings, which is increased by the internal air 

 propelled out of their bodies through the air-tubes at 

 the same tine ; for some of these pipes open with 

 wide apertures under the wings. Certain cavities, 

 also, fit for receiving and vibrating the air, and formed 

 under and between the wings, contribute to this. 

 Nor must the shoulder-blades be excluded from their 

 share in this music, since they are placed just above 

 the wings, joined to the chest, and having under their 

 breadth the openings of several air-pipes. It is thus 

 the motion of the wings, with the assistance of all 

 these parts, and by force of the propelled air, makes 

 the humming noise peculiar to that insect."*' M. 

 Chabrier has in part adopted this opinion as to the 

 effect of the air.| 



Reaumur observed that the various sounds of bees, 

 whether more or less grave or shrill, are produced by 

 the wings beating more or less rapidly against the air, 

 according also, it may be, to the different angles at 

 which it is struck. J The latter observation reminds us 

 of the toy called the hummer (in Scotland a Whunner- 

 spale), which produces a sound nearly resembling the 

 hum of a bee, though rather deeper, and more loud. 

 It consists of a thin piece of deal, about six inches by 

 two, deeply notched all round the edge, to one end of 

 which a string is tied for the purpose of whirling it 

 rapidly round, as is done in slinging, when the sound 

 alluded to is produced. But it is indispensable that 

 it have two motions, — one round the boy who whirls 

 it, and another round its own axis ; in the same way 

 as we presume the vertical vibration of the bees' wings, 

 combined with its passage through the air, may cause 

 the hum. 



Reaumur expressly says, that a bee whose wings 



* Biblia Naturja, i, 168. 

 t Essai sur le Vol des Insectes. | Me moires, p. 617. 



