SIB JOHN LUBBOOK ON ANTS, BEES, AND WASPS. 45 



To decide between these two alternatives, I moved the musical 

 box (without setting it to play) and honey to another part of the 

 lawn about 15 yards from the first, and put an equal quantity of 

 honey on a similar piece of glass at about the same distance both 

 from the musical box and from the spot where the box had pre- 

 viously been. In half an hour there were several bees at the 

 honey on the musical box, and none at the other. After this we 

 had a week of rain. The next fine morning I again put out the 

 musical box with some honey, and at a distance of about 15 yards 

 a similar quantity of honey on a bit of glass on the grass. In 

 half an hour there were several bees at the honey on the musical 

 box, and none on the other. 



I had intended to repeat this several times for greater security, 

 but was unfortunately prevented by bad weather. The observa- 

 tions, however, indicate, as far as they go, that the bees did 

 connect the presence of the musical box with that of the honey, 

 and were guided by it, even if it were not playing, so long as they 

 could see it, but that if they could not see it, even though it 

 were playing, it did not assist them. 



At first sight it might seem that these experiments are in direct 

 opposition to the general idea, that a clanging noise is useful in 

 causing bees when swarming to settle soon. This notion is as 

 old as Aristotle, who says, " Bees also appear to have pleasure in 

 noises, so that they say that they collect them into their hives by 

 striking earthen vessels and making noises." He adds, however, 

 " But it is very doubtful whether they hear or not." 



The general opinion among writers on bees now seems to be 

 that " tanging " is quite unecessary. Bevan says : — "A tinkling 

 noise is generally, though erroneously, considered to be useful ia 

 inducing bees to settle ; it is usually made by drumming smartly 

 upon a frying-pan with a large key ; and the cottagers call it 

 ' tanging ' or ' ringing.' It was probably practised, ' at first, 

 as Butler says, ' to proclaim to the neighbours that a swarm was 

 up, serving as a public notification of the hive from whence it pro- 

 ceeded. This view of the matter is confirmed by the opinion 

 prevalent in some districts, that unless the apiarian can prove the 

 tanging, he cannot justly lay claim to the sv\arm if it happen to 

 cluster on the premises of a neighbour. The original object of 

 this proceeding, however, seems to be forgotten ; and the prac- 

 tice is regarded by most of the cottagers as quite necessary to 

 effect a speedy and satisfactory settling of the bees. Most 



