HEARING, TASTE, AND SMELLING. 103 



peculiar noise was uttered, and remained altogether 

 motionless ; and whenever she had recourse to this 

 assertion of authority, the same effects followed. 



Again, unless observers are fanciful in their inter- 

 pretation of the sounds to be heard at various times 

 in a hive, we must conclude that certain feelings, 

 such as those of anger, grief, consternation, satis- 

 faction, joy, &c.,' are expressed in distinct tones. If 

 this is the case, we can only conclude that, difficult 

 as it may be to localise the organ of hearing, such 

 an organ must exist. Nor, in all probability, shall 

 we be mistaken in assigning its position to the 

 antennae ; for recent investigations into the anatomy 

 of these organs in ants/ lend much support to the 

 theory that an auditory apparatus is situated in them. 



Taste. Next as to taste. We have already 

 spoken of the close connection between this sense 

 and the preceding ; but, whatever doubt may be enter- 

 tained as to the possession of the former, there can 

 be none as to the latter. Huber, indeed, from the 

 fact that bees are often seen lapping stable-liquid and 

 sewage, thought the sense of taste could exist in them 

 to only a very small degree. It must be remembered, 

 however, that, like many other creatures, they are 

 fond of certain salts, and to this, no doubt, may be 

 ascribed their visits to the above-mentioned liquids. 

 On a priori grounds we should conclude that the 

 possession of this faculty was most important, for the 

 detection of nectar suitable and unsuitable for the 

 purposes of the hive. Moreover, we find a marked 

 preference shown for flowers which produce the best 

 honey ; and the eagerness with which they will lap up 



1 Vide p. 227 of Ants, Bees, and Wasps, by Sir John Lubbock. 



