■KOTSRS OF INSECTS. 389 



f*ad whenever slie had recourse to this attitude and 

 sound, they operated upon them in the same manner. 

 The writer just mentioned observed differences both 

 with regard to the succession and intensity of the notes 

 and tones of this royal song- ; and, as he justly remarks, 

 there may be still finer shades which, escaping our or- 

 gans, may be distinctly perceived by the bees". He 

 seems however to doubt by what means this sound is 

 produced. Reasoning- analogically, ihe motion of the 

 wings should occasion it. We have seen that they are 

 in constant motion Avhen it is uttered. Probably the 

 intensity of the tones and their succession are reg-ulated 

 by the intensity of the vibrations of the wings. Reau- 

 mur remarks, that the different tones of the bees, 

 whether more or less grave or acute, are produced by 

 the strokes, more or less rapid, of their wings ag-ainst 

 the air, and that perliaps their different angles of incli- 

 nation may vary the sound. The friction of their 

 bases likewise against the sides of the cavity in which 

 they are inserted, as in the case of the fly lately men- 

 tioned, or against the base-covers (Tegulce), may pro- 

 duce or modulate their sounds, a bee whose wings are 

 eradicated being perfectly mute"". This last assertion, 

 however, is contradicted by John Hunter, who aifirms 

 that bees produce a noise independent of their wings, 

 emitting a chrill and peevish sound though they are cut 

 off, and the legs held fast ' . Yet it does not appear from 

 his experiment that the wings were eradicated. And if 

 theylwere only cut off, the friction of their base might 

 dcause the sound. I have before noticed the reaiark- 



" Iluher, i. 2fi0. ii. 292— " Rcaum. v. 617, 



■ '^ r/iilus. Trans. 1192. 



