SENSES OF BEES. 309 



The antennae appear to be the more important 

 organs of the two ; as the palpi, when removedj 

 have not been found to occasion much apparent 

 inconvenience ; whilst from the experiments of 

 HUBER and others, it appears that the excision of 

 the antenna deprives the insect of the perfect 

 exercise of its functions. It seems immediately 

 to lose its instincts. The amputation of one 

 antenna produces no effect ; but if both be cut off 

 near the root, the bee no longer possesses the power 

 of guiding itself; it cannot direct its tongue to 

 receive food from its companions, nor take any 

 share in the operations of the family ; but exhibits 

 perfect indifference, and keeps near the entrance, 

 apparently for the sake of light ; when that is 

 withdrawn, it soon leaves the hive to return no 

 more. " Their departure," says HUBER, " must 

 be ascribed to the loss of that sense, which is em- 

 ployed to guide them in the dark." 



That bees possess a fine sense of TASTE, may 

 be readily conceived from the delicious food which 

 they collect, and from their having a preference 

 for those flowers that afford the best honey, when- 

 ever such flowers grow abundantly in the neigh- 

 bourhood of the hives. Hence the superiority of 

 the honey of Narbonne, Hymettus, and Pontus. 

 HUBER regards Taste as the least perfect of the 

 senses of bees, but the reasons he gives for this 

 opinion are unsatisfactory. Indeed the tongue of 



