MANUAL OP THE APIARY. 51 



by inserting a needle for half its length into a pine stick the 

 shape of a pipe-stem, leaving' the point projecting for an inch 

 or more. With one of these in each hand commence opera- 

 tions. The head may be either side up. Much may be 

 learned in dissecting large insects, even with no glass ; but 

 in all cases, and especially in small insects, a good lens will 

 be of great value. The best lens is one of ToUes', sold by 

 Mr Stoddard, of the Boston optical works. These are very 

 excellent and thus high priced, costing $14.00. Gray's trip- 

 let hand-lenses are very good, are cheap, and can be procured 

 for about $2.00 of any optician. The handle should have a 

 hole through it to permit of mounting it above the object, so 

 that it will hold itself. Tolles' lenses are easily mounted, in 

 a stand which any one can contrive and make in twenty min- 

 utes. I value my Tolles' lens even more highly than my 

 large compound microscope, which cost $150. Were I 

 obliged to part with either, the latter would go. 



I require my students to do a great deal of dissecting, 

 which they enjoy very much and find very valuable. I would 

 much rather that my boy would become interested in such 

 study, than to have him possessor of infinite gold rings, or 

 even a huge gold watch, with a tremendous charm. Let such 

 pleasing recreation gain the attention of our boys, and they 

 will ever contribute to our delight, and not sadden us with 

 anxiety and fear. 



The antennae (Fig. 6, a. a) are the hom-Jike jointed organs 

 sitiiated between or below and in front of the large compound 

 eyes of al! insects. They are sometimes short, as in the 

 house-fly, and sometimes very long, as in the grasshoppers. 

 They are either straight, curved or elbowed (Fig. 6). In 

 form, too, they are very various, as thread-like, tapering, 

 toothed, knobbed, fringed, feathered, etc. It is known that a 

 nerve passes into the antennae, but their exact function is little 

 understood. That they serve as most delicate touch organs 

 no apiarist can doubt. That they serve as organs of smell 

 or hearing is not proved. That insects are conscious of sounds 

 I think no observing person can doubt. It is proved by the 

 call of the katy-did, the cicada and the cricket. What apia- 

 rist too, has not noticed the ejBfect of various sounds made 

 by the bees upon their comrades of the hive. How contagious 



