202 PEllFECT SOCIETIES OF INSECTS. 



it were inquiring-, in all directions; and the queen \vas5 

 observed answering- these anxious inquiries of her sub- 

 jects in the most marked manner; for she was always 

 fastened by her feet to the grate, crossing* her antennae 

 with those of the inquirers. Various other experiments, 

 which are too long to relate, prove the importance of 

 these organs as the instrument of communicating with 

 each other, as well as to direct the bee in all its pro- 

 ceedings^. Besides their antennae, the bees also cause 

 themselves to be understood by certain sounds, not in- 

 deed produced by their mouth, but by other parts of 

 their body : — but upon this subject I shall have occa- 

 sion to enlarge hereafter. 



That bees can remember agreeable sensations at 

 least, is evident from the following anecdote related by 

 Huber. — One autumn some honey was placed upon a 

 window — the bees attended it in crowds. The honey 

 was taken away, and the window closed with a shutter 

 all the winter. In the spring, when it was re-opened, 

 the bees returned, though no fresh honey had been 

 placed there''. 



From the earliest times our little citizens of the hive 

 have had the character of being an irritable race. 

 Their anger is without bounds, says Virgil ; and if they 

 are molested, this character is no exaggeration. Some 

 individuals, however, tJiey will sutler to go near their 

 hives, and to do almost any thing : and there are others 

 to whom they seem to take such an antipathy, that they 

 will attack them unprovoked. A great deal will probably 

 depend upon this — whether any thing- has happened to 

 put them out of humour. The bees usually do not attack 



» Ilubcr, ii. 407— * Ibid. 375. 



