316 SENSES OF BEES. 



its liberty, would not venture to fly. These ex- 

 periments being tried upon bees by Reaumur, 

 they remained immoveable, appearing uncertain 

 where to direct their flight : when their eyes only 

 were covered, they flew perpendicularly upwards 

 till they were out of sight, seeming to follow that 

 direction which the aid of the stemmata afforded 

 them. These stemmata may, from their situation, 

 assist the insect in performing its various opera- 

 tions in the interior of the hive ; may, as Reaumur 

 has observed, answer to them the purpose of 

 microscopes. 



I cannot conclude this chapter on the Senses 

 of Bees without noticing the theory of that eminent 

 physiologist DR. VIREY. He has given it as his 

 opinion, that there are seven senses, which he thus 

 divides. Four physical, namely, Touch, Taste, 

 Smell, and Love ; three intellectual, namely, 

 Hearing, Sight, and Thought. (N. Diet. d'H'ist 

 Nat.) Whether Love and Thought should b 

 added to my enumeration of the senses of bee 

 I shall not now inquire : if they may be, this wor 

 will supply abundant evidence of both, if we com 

 prehend the whole community of bees ; for thong 

 physical love appears not to constitute any par 

 of the pleasure of the working bee, (except from 

 some accidental cause which has been alread) 

 explained,) there is presumptive proof of it 



