MABCHAL ON CERCERIS OENATA. 205 



tlie antennae announces the reawakening, and in about three 

 minutes the posterior legs move about in a disordered way. 

 The insect then begins to come out of its general numbness and 

 finds itself in just about the same state as a bee which has just 

 been subjected to malaxation. Xow since malaxation lasts just 

 three minutes it would seem that this process adds nothing to 

 the sting, but it is only necessary to compare a series of bees 

 which have been subjected to it with one w^hich has not, to be 

 convinced that this is not true. 



Half an hour after the operation the bee which has not had 

 malaxation has recovered to the point of vibrating its wings rap- 

 idly; its leg's move quickly, its antennae are mobile, and the in- 

 sect presents its ordinary appearance, even taking some steps but 

 soon rolling on its back. This state of relief from numbness 

 progresses for three hours. In two hours it turns its Lead right 

 and left, moves its antennae, even tries to bite with its mandi- 

 bles. These movements are not automatic but voluntary. It 

 tries to fly but cannot leave the earth. 



In the meantime in the bee that was submitted to malaxation 

 the state of torpor pei-sists and only changes to become more 

 complete. The movements show a suppression of all that is 

 voluntary. The only trace of co-ordination is that it frequently 

 strokes its flanks and its legs with the posterior legs as if to rub 

 off pollen. This suppression of the will is the result not of the 

 compression of the neck but of the loss of nourishing juices re- 

 sulting from the hemorrhage of the great dorsal vessel. 



Eeturning to the bee that has not been malaxed, we find 

 that the movements persist with a certain intensity up to the 

 fourth hour and then diminish and finally disappear. The table 

 shows that movement persists much longer ^n this class than in 

 the other. 



Out of eight bees that were subjected to malaxation after 

 stinging : 



7 ceased to move the first day after operation. 



1 ceased to move the second day after operation. j 



