PHYSIOLOGY. 



duced under such circumstances, set about building 

 royal cells, just as they would have done if the 

 queen had been entirely removed from the hive. 

 He repeated this experiment, with a grating which 

 allowed the transmission of the antennae only. 

 Here the effect was quite different : for the bees 

 being able to assure themselves, by the frequent 

 crossing of their antennae with those of the queen, 

 that she was still amongst them, every thing re- 

 mained in order ; the brood were attended to, no 

 interruption took place in any of their labours, 

 nor were any royal cells commenced. From all 

 these experiments (and they were repeatedly 

 tried), it seems evident that the antennae of bees, 

 as well as of ants, possess the faculty of receiving 

 and conveying information. Bees receive some 

 kinds of intelligence through the medium of certain 

 sounds, as has been stated in another place. 



The antennce, in addition to the uses already 

 ascribed to them, may serve to inform the bees of 

 the state of the atmosphere, and enable them to 

 discern the approach of a change in the weather. 

 The suddenness and rapidity of their flight towards 

 the apiary, often afford a hint to the observer of 

 their proceedings, that a storm is at hand, of which 

 he received no intimation from any other quarter. 



" Inque vicem speculantur aquas et nubila cceli." 



VIRGIL. 



" That the bees," says DR. EVANS, " can foresee 



