no 



JNSECT MISCELLANIES, 



u, Acanthocinvs adilis, Megerle. fc, Adela De Gcerellu, male, c, Adda Dc 

 Geerella, female. 



bees and ants are instruments of language by the me- 

 dium of touch and gesticulation. Let us examine the 

 experiment made to ascertain the means by which in- 

 telligence of the loss of a queen is spread through the 

 hive, which always takes place within an hour after 

 the event. 



' I divided,' he says, ^ a hive into two portions by 

 means of a grating, executing the operation with such 

 expedition and delicacy, that the smallest agitation 

 was imperceptible, nor was a single bee injured. The 

 bars of the grating admitted the free circulation of 

 air, but were too close for the reciprocal passage of 

 the bees. I did not know which half contained the 

 c[ueen, but the tumult and buzzing in number one soon 



