294} PHYSIOLOGY. 



I have before stated that in the course of an 

 hour the important intelligence of the loss or 

 safety of a queen is known to a whole colony. It 

 seems highly improbable that in this time, 20,000 

 bees should have assured themselves of the pre- 

 sence and safety of their queen, by applying their 

 antennae to hers ; such an attempt would create a 

 state of complete confusion. Huber proved by 

 a very decisive experiment, similar to those already 

 related, that the queen is not distinguishable by 

 her subjects, in consequence of any emanation 

 from her person. There must then be some mode, 

 to which I have given the name of language, by 

 which those who have exchanged contact with 

 their antennae can communicate the tranquillizing 

 intelligence to their companions. It seems im- 

 possible to explain, in any other way, the concur- 

 rence of so many wills to one end ; or that sudden 

 interruption and restitution of harmony which are 

 often exhibited in every community of bees. It 

 is the opinion of MR. KNIGHT that bees are not 

 only capable of communicating intelligence to the 

 members of their own family, but that a friendly 

 intercourse sometimes takes place between neigh- 

 bouring colonies : the cases which he has related 

 in support of this opinion, however, can hardly be 

 said to bear him out in it ; for in each of them, 

 after the intercourse had continued for a few days, 

 it terminated in violent hostility. Such instances, 



