SIR JOHlSr LUBBOCK ON ANTS, BEES, AND WASPS. 43 



the same remark as the last. The bee would have a tendency of 

 course, like any one else, to go to the nearest honey. Hence I 

 never supposed that the figures exactly indicate the degree of pre- 

 ference. The very fact, however, that there would naturally be a 

 tendency to save themselves labor by going to the nearest honey, 

 makes the contrast shown by my observations all the more 

 striking. Dr. Miiller's criticism does not in any way invalidate 

 my conclusions, as he supposes, but, as it seems to me, strengthens 

 my argument. 



I have never alleged that it was possible in the case of bees 

 (or for that matter of men either) to get any absolute and exact 

 measure of preference for one color over another. It would be 

 easy to suggest many considerations which would prevent this. 

 For instance, something would probably depend on the kind of 

 flower the bee had been in the habit of visiting. A bee which 

 had been sucking daises might probably behave very differently 

 from one which had been frequenting a blue flower. 



So far, however, as the conclusions which I ventured to draw 

 are concerned, I cannot see that they are in any way invalidated 

 by the objections which Dr. Miiller has urged. 



I exhibit to the Society my original notes ; and it will be seen 

 that there is no such sequence as Dr. Miiller supposes. 



I am glad to see that Dr. Miiller is himself about to make a 

 series of experiments on bees with reference to color ; and I 

 doubt not they will be most interesting. 



Searing in Bees. — Aug. 27. I brought two sets of bees from 

 different hives to two deposits of honey a few yards apart, and 

 after arranging a telephone with a microphone in the circuit, dis- 

 turbed one set of bees, holding a telephone close over the other, 

 to see if they would make any noise which would affect the 

 others. I tried it several times, but with no result. 



I then placed one telephone just at the entrance of the hive ; 

 but whether the apparatus was connected or not, and whether the 

 bees were disturbed or not, seemed to make no difference. 



I then made the following experiment: — On the 30th September 

 I put out a small quantity of honey on my lawn and brought 

 some bees to it. I then set a musical box going, and continually 

 replenished the honey and wound up the box. The weather 

 was lovely, and all day a certain number of bees visited the 

 honey. 

 Then on the 8th October I removed the honey to au open window 



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