BEES SPEAK A LANGUAGE. 231 



series of faint barking sounds, which have been likened 

 to the syllable " Off ! off ! " very sharply spoken. After 

 a few days she changes the bark into a piping sound, 

 which is accepted as a signal that she is about to make 

 her appearance. 



Should, as sometimes happens, the outgoing queen and 

 swarm not be ready to start, the nurse bees that surround 

 the royal cell stop her piping, literally hushing her into 

 silence. Should she disregard them and force her way 

 out too soon, the old queen is sure to attack her, and in 

 all probability both are killed. 



Here, then, we have a definite language spoken by the 

 bee and intelligible to man. 



I might multiply similar examples to any extent, but 

 the limits of space prevent me from continuing the 

 history of this wonderful insect any further. Suffice it 

 to say that the whole life of the bee, from the moment 

 when it is hatched to the time when its earthly task is 

 finished, is a sermon on one comprehensive text " The 

 Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the 

 Almighty hath given me life." 



