158 ANIMAL INTELLIGENCE. 



filled, when one or more are let out at places distant from each 

 other, and the direction in each case in which the bee flies 

 noted, and thus, by a kind of triangulation, the position of the 

 bee-tree proximately ascertained. 



Those who have stored honey in their houses understand 

 very well how impoi-tant it is to prevent a single bee from dis- 

 covering its location. Such discovery is sure to be followed by 

 a general onslaught from the hive unless all means of access is 

 prevented. It is possible that our American are more intelli- 

 gent than European bees, but hardly probable ; and I certainly 

 shall not ask an Englishman to admit it. Those in America 

 who are in the habit of playing first, second, and third fiddle 

 to instinct will probably attribute this seeming intelligence to 

 that principle. 



According to De Fraviere, bees have a number of differ- 

 ent notes or tones which they emit from the stigmata of 

 the thorax and abdomen, and by which they communicate 

 information. He says : — 



As soon as a bee arrives with important news, it is at once 

 surrounded, emits two or three shrill notes, and taps a com- 

 rade with its long, ^flexible, and very slender feelers, or antennae. 

 The friend passes on the news in similar fashion, and the intel- 

 ligence soon traverses the whole hive. If it is of an agreeable 

 kind — if, for instance, it concerns the discovery of a store of 

 sugar or of honey, or of a flowering meadow — all remains 

 orderly. But, on the other hand, great excitement arises if the 

 news presages some threatened danger, or if strange animals 

 are threatening invasion of the hive. It seems that such intel- 

 ligence is conveyed first to the queen, as the most important 

 person in the state. 



This account, which is quoted from Biichner, no 

 doubt bears indications of imaginative colouring ; but if 

 the observation as to the emission of sounds is correct — 

 and, as we shall see, this point is well confirmed by other 

 observers — it is most likely concerned in communicating 

 by tone a general idea of good or harm : probably in the 

 former case it acts as a sign, ' follow me ;' and in the latter 

 as a signal of danger. Biichner further says that, accord- 

 ing to Landois, if a saucer of honey is placed before a 

 hive, a few bees come out, which emit a cry of tut, tut, 

 tut. This note is rather shrill, and resembles the cry of 



