STRUCTURE ADAPTED TO WANTS. 83 



one to the right and the other to the left. This 

 division consisted, not of a solid board, but of two 

 pieces of zinc side by side, and full of very small 

 holes, too small for the bees to get through, but just 

 sufficiently large for the bees to push their antennae 

 through. These two divisions, at first put in side by 

 side and close together, were then separated an inch 

 or two one from the other. The consequence was 

 that, while the bees in the one half, where the queen 

 happened to be at the time, were as quiet as usual, 

 and went on working, the bees in the other half 

 became in a very agitated state, as always is the case 

 when their queen is removed. 



But then, as the divisions were full of little holes, 

 and not like thick board, why could not those 

 bees, which had the queen on their side, tell the 

 others that she was not really lost, but as well as 

 ever? If they could have done this, all would have 

 been well, and the agitation would have ceased, 

 but this they could not do, and so the disturbance 

 went on. 



But now the two divisions were brought, gradually 

 and slowly, nearer and nearer together, until at last 

 they were so near that the bees could almost touch 

 one another, but still the state of excitement on the 

 one side continued. The bees on that side could not 

 be satisfied as to the presence and welfare of their 

 queen, but when the divisions were brought just a 

 little nearer, — near enough for the bees on one side 

 to touch with their antennae the antennae of the bees 

 on the other side, then immediately all agitation 

 ceased. The bees evidently at once knew their queen 



