14 PHYSIOLOGY OF THE HONEY-BEE. 



the door was opened, had become customary and interested vis- 

 itors. 



31. Every bee-keeper has noticed that their flight is guided 

 by the scent of flowers, though they be a mile or more away. 

 In the city of Keokuk, situated on a hill in a curve of the 

 Mississippi, the bees cross the river, a mile wide, to find the 

 flowers on the opposite bank. 



32. "Not only do bees have a very acute sense of smell, 

 but they add to this faculty the remembrance of sensations. 

 Here is an example: We had placed some honey on a window. 

 Bees soon crowded upon it. Then the honey was taken away, 

 and the outside shutters were closed and remained so the whole 

 winter. When, in Spring, the shutters were opened again, the 

 bees came back, although there was no honey on the window. 

 No doubt, they remembered that they got honey there before. 

 So, an interval of several months was not sufficient to efface the 

 impression they had received. — (Huber, "Nouvelles Observa- 

 tions sur les Abeilles," Geneve, 1814.) 



33. It is well known, also, that bees wintered in cellars 

 (H46) remember their previous location when taken out in 

 the Spring. 



If food is given to a colony, at the same hour, and in the 

 same spot, for two days in succession, they will expect it the 

 tliird day, at the same time and place. 



34. "When one of her antennae is cut off, no change takes 

 place in the behavior of the queen. If you cut both antennae 

 near the head, this mother, formerly held in such high consid- 

 eration by her people, loses all her influence, and even the 

 maternal instinct disappears. Instead of laying her eggs in the 

 cells, she drops them here and there." — (Huber.) 



The experiments made by Huber on workers and drones, 

 in regard to the loss of the antennae, are equally conclusive. 

 The workers, deprived of their antennae, returned to the hive, 

 Avhere they remained inactive and soon deserted it forever, 

 light being the only thing which seemed to have any attraction 

 for them. 



In the same way, drones, depnved of their antennae, de- 



