ZOOLOGY AND BOTAXY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 771 



differences in the size and histological constitution of these regions 

 which point to a much more elevated psychical function in insects. 

 The great development of the swellings of the median cerebral segment 

 in the higher Crustacea indicates that this region is very important 

 from a psychical point of view. The further details of the structure 

 of the brain and sensory organs of Spkceroma would require a number 

 of figures for their satisfactory elucidation. 



a. Insecta. 



Want of Cutaneous Absorption in Aquatic Coleoptera.* — 

 L. Fredericq placed Dytiscus marginalis and other water-beetles in 

 aqueous solutions of curare, or strychnine, a few drops of which were 

 sufficient to poison a frog in a few minutes. The insects, however, 

 lived in them for from 15 to 30 days, when the experiment was brought 

 t ) an end. It is to be noted that Coleoptera may be poisoned by 

 strychnine or curare, and the facts observed agree with the statement 

 of F. Plateau that aquatic Coleoptera do not suffer from immersion 

 in sea-water. 



Habits of Ants. Bees, and Wasps. — Sir John Lubbock recently 

 laid before the Linnean Society his tenth communication on this 

 subject, containing an account of his further observations made 

 during the past year. 



The two queen ants which have lived with him since 1874. and 

 which are now, therefore, no less than eight years old. are still alive 

 and laid eggs last summer as usual. His oldest workers are seven 

 years old. 



Dr. Hermann Muller, in a recent review, had criticized his 

 experiments on the colour sense of bees; but Sir John pointed out 

 that he had antieijiated the objections suggested, and had guarded 

 against the sttpposed source of error. The difference was, moreover, 

 not one of principle, nor does Dr. Muller question the main conclu- 

 sions arrived at or doubt the preference of bees for blue, which, 

 indeed, is strongly indicated by his own observations on flowers. 



Sir John also recorded some further experiments with reference 

 to the power of hearing. Some bees were trained to come to honey 

 which was placed on a musical box on the lawn close to a window. 

 The musical box was kept going for several hours a day for a fort- 

 night. It was then brought into the house and placed out of sight, 

 but at the open window, and only about seven yards from where it 

 had been before. The bees, however, did not find the honey, though 

 when it was once shown them they came to it readily enough. Other 

 experiments with a microphone were without results. Every one 

 knows that bees when swarming are popularly (and have been ever 

 since the time of Aristotle) supposed to be influenced by clanging 

 kettles. Ac Experienced apiarists are now disposed to doubt whether 

 the noise has really any effect ; but Sir John suggests that even if it 

 has, with reference to which he expressed no opinion, it is possible 



* Bull. K. Acad. Belg. Sci., iv. (1S82) pp. 212-3. 



