6 PHYSIOLOGY OF THE HONEY-BEE. 



to guide themselves by the relative position of objects, hence 

 they always return to the identical spot they left. 



14. If we place a colony in a forest where the rays of 

 the sun can scarcely penetrate, the bees, at their exit from 

 the hive, will flj' several times around their new abode, then, 

 selecting a small aperture through the dense foliage, they 

 will rise above the forest, in quest of the flowers scattered 

 in the fields. And like children in a nutting party, they will 

 gather their crop here and there, a mile or more away, without 

 fear of being lost or unable to return. 



As soon as their honey-sack is full, or, if a threatening 

 cloud passes before the sun, they start for home, without any 

 hesitation, and, among so many trees, even while the wind 

 mingles the leafy twigs, they find their way; so perfect is the 

 organization of their composite eyes. 



15. Bees can notice and remember colors. While experi- 

 menting on this faculty, we placed some honey on small 

 pieces of differently colored paper. A bee alighted on a 

 yellow paper, sucked her load and returned to her hive. 

 While she was absent, we moved the paper. Returning, she 

 came directly to the spot, but, noticing that the yellow paper 

 was not there, she made several inquiring circles in the air, 

 and then alighted upon it. According to Mr. A. J. Cook a 

 similar experiment with the same results, was made by Lub- 

 bock. ("Bee-keepers' Guide," Lansing, 1884.) 



16. We usually give our bees flour, in shallow boxes, at 

 the opening of Spring, before the pollen appears in the 

 flowers. These boxes are brought in at night. Eveiy morn- 

 ing they are put out again, after the bees have commenced 

 flying and hover around the spot. If by chance, some bits of 

 white paper are scattered about the place, the bees ^^sit those 

 papers, mistaking them for flour, on account of the color. 



17. But ''the celebrated Darwin was mistaken in saying 

 that the colorless blossoms, which he names obscure blossoms, 

 are scarcely visited by insects, while the most highly colored 

 blossoms are very fondly visited by bees." (Gaston Bonnier, 

 <'LeR Nectaires/* Paris, 1879.) 



