TOUCH. 275 



every ant which it chances to meet. Each ant, on receiving 

 this intimation, .immediately sets about repeating the same 

 signal to the next ant which comes in its way; and the alarm 

 is thus disseminated with astonishing rapidity throughout the 

 whole society. Sentinels are at all limes stationed on the 

 outside of the nests, for the purpose of apprizing the inha- 

 bitants of any danger that may be at hand. On the attack 

 of an enemy, these guardians quickly enter into the nest, 

 and spread the intelligence on every side: the whole swarm 

 is soon in motion, and while the greater number of ants rush 

 forwards with desperate fury to repel the attack, others who 

 are intrusted with the office of guarding the eggs and the 

 larvae, hasten to remove their charge to places of greater se- 

 curity. 



When the queen bee is forcibly taken away from the hive, 

 the bees which are near her at the time do not soon appear 

 sensible of her absence, and the labours of the hive are car- 

 ried on as usual. It is seldom before the lapse of an hour, 

 that the working-bees begin to manifest any symptoms of 

 uneasiness: they are then observed to quit the Iarva3 which 

 they had been feeding, and to run about in great agitation, 

 to and fro, near the cell which the queen had occupied be- 

 fore her abduction. They then move over a wider circle, 

 and on meeting with such of their companions as are not 

 aware of the disaster, communicate the intelligence by cross- 

 ing their antennae, and striking lightly with them. The 

 bees which receive the news become, in their turn, agitated, 

 and conveying this feeling wherever they go, the alarm is 

 soon participated by all the inhabitants of the hive. All 

 rush forwards with tumultuous precipitation, eagerly seek- 

 ing their lost queen; but after continuing the search for some 

 hours, and finding it to be fruitless, they appear resigned to 

 their misfortune; the noisy hubbub subsides, and the bees 

 quietly resume their labours. 



A bee, deprived of its antennas, immediately becomes dull 

 and listless: it desists from its usual labours, remains at the 

 bottom of the hive, seems attracted only by the light, and 



