VISION IN INSECTS. 121 



females, are considered blind. Even the males of one 

 species ( Termes fatalis) are said by Dr. Konig *, who 

 observed them at Tranquebar, to have only an obscure 

 spot near the antenna? ; and he could not perceive the 

 gold-coloured point in the forehead, described by Fa- 

 bricius f- The seinsects, it mus thowever be remark- 

 ed, like Latreille's blind French ants, are impatient of 

 light, and always, even in foraging 1 , walk under cover. 



If we turn to insects which are admitted by all to 

 possess vision, we shall find that authors are by no 

 means agreed respecting its nature and extent, as is 

 most strikingly the case in the instance of bees. 

 "How great," exclaims the elder Huber, "is their 

 perfection of sight, as if to compensate the defects of 

 their hearing J. The bee, from this cause, recognises 

 its habitation amidst an apiary of numerous others 

 resembling it, and returns in a straight line with great 

 velocity : we must suppose that it is distinguished by 

 marks escaping our notice. The bee departs, and 

 flies straight to the most flowery field ; and having 

 ascertained its course, it is seen traversing it as 

 directly as the flight of a cannon or musket ball. 

 When it has made its collection, it rises aloft in the 

 air to reconnoitre its hive, and returns with the ra- 

 pidity of lightning ." 



Wildman, on the other hand, tells us that he has 

 observed them go up and down, seeking the door of 

 the hive, and be obliged after alighting to rise again 

 in order to find it. He conceived that they see better 

 when flying than when alighted || ; not, however, as 

 Dr. Bevan remarks, because their vision is improved 

 by the act of flying, but from objects being placed at 

 a greater distance, and better adapted to the focus of 



* Beschaftigungen der Berlin, iv. 1. 



f Bestimmung des Geschlechts, i. 179. 



J See page 73. Huber on Bees, p. 221. 



|| Wildman on Bees. 



M 



