26 



PHrSIOLOGY OP THE HONET-BEE. 



wings. Thus united, (hey present to the air a stronger sur- 

 face and ^i\e the Ijees a greater power of flight. N(_> doubt, a 

 single pair of wings of the same surface would have better 

 attained the desired aim, but their width would have annoyed 

 the bees in going inside of the cells, either to feed the larvae 

 or to deposit supplies. Imagine a blue f.y trying, with its 

 wide wings, to go inside of a cell ! 



WINGS OF THE HONEY BEE. 



(^legnified. From Cheshire.) 



A, anterior wing, under 'ride ; p,p^ plait. 



B, posterior wing, under yide ; h,h, booklets. 



C, cross-section of wings through line, o,Z)^ showing hooklets in plait. 



61. "Mr. Gauriehon has noticed that when the bees fan, 

 or ventilate the entrance of the hive, their wings are not 

 hooked together as they are in flight, but act independently 

 of one another." (Dubini, l^Sl.) A German entomologist, 

 Landnis, slates that, according to the pitch of their hum, the 

 bees' flight must at times be equal to 4411 vibrations in a sec- 

 ond, Imt he noticed that this speed could not be kept up with- 

 out fatigue. It is well known that the more rapid the vilira- 

 tions, the higher the pitch. 



63. DiOESTixG Apparatus. — The honey obtained from the 

 blossoms, after mixing with the saliva (41), and passing 



