How She Hears and Smells. 67 



So you see these antennae are very im- 

 portant and valuable. But you have not 

 yet heard all. When bees have anything 

 to say to each other they say it by means 

 of their antennae. Just how this is done I 

 cannot say, as 1 do not know. But they 

 manage it somehow. 



When two bees meet they cross antennas 

 in a friendly way, instead of shaking hands 

 and asking after each ^^^^^^^^^^j 

 other's health ; that is, how do you do"? °^ 

 if they are friends, they do. If they are 

 not members of the same family, I am sorry 

 to say they- fight. Two sisters, however, 

 never fight. 



Miss Apis's very life depends upon her 

 antennae. By means of them she hears, 

 smells, discovers the nature of objects 

 about her, and communicates with her 

 fellow-bees. 



.When she is awake her antennae are 

 almost always in motion, and she is con- 

 stantly touching the flowers with them. 



