34 PHrSIOLOGT OP THE HONEY-BEE. 



"The humming is not produced solely by the vibrating of 

 the wings, as is generally admitted. Chabrier, Burmeister, Lan- 

 dois, have discovered in the humming, three different sounds: 

 the first, caused by the vibration of the wings; the second, 

 sharper, by the vibration of the rings of the abdomen; the 

 third, the most intense and acute, produced by a true vocal 

 mechanism, placed at the orifices of the aerial tubes. ' ' — 

 (Girard.) 



^76. The bee-keeper who understands the language of bees, 

 can turn it to his advantage. Here are some examples : 



"When something seems to irritate the bees, who are iu front 

 , of a hive, on the alighting-board, they emit a short sound, 

 Z-Z-Z-, jumping at the same time towards the hive. This is a 

 warning. Then they fly and examine the object of their fears, 

 remaining sustained by their wings, near the suspected object, 

 and emitting at the same time, a distinct and prolonged sound. 

 This is a sign of great suspicion. If the object moves quickly, 

 or otherwise shows hostile intent, the song is changed into a 

 piercing cry for help, in a voice whistling with anger. They 

 dash forward violently and blindly, and try to sting. 



"When they are quiet and satisfied, their voice is the hum- 

 ming of a grave tune; or, if they do not move their wings, an 

 allegro murmur. If they are suddenly caught or compressed, 

 the sound is one of distress. If a hive is jarred at a time when 

 all the bees are quiet, the mass speedily raise a hum, which 

 ceases ' as suddenly. In a queenless hive, the sound is doleful, 

 lasts longer, and at times increases in force. When bees swarm, 

 the tune is clear and gay, showing manifest happiness." — 

 ((Ettl-Klauss, 1836.) 



t7. The German pastor Stahala has published a very com- 

 plete study on the language of bees, which has appeared in 

 some of the bee-papers of Italy, France and America. We 

 do not consider it as altogether accurate; but there are some 

 sounds described that all bee-keepers ought to study, especially 

 the doleful wail of colonies which have- lost their queen,' and 

 have no means of rearing another. 



VS. The Sting.— The sting of a bee, a terror to so many, 

 is indispensable to her preservation. Without it, the attrac- 



