Il6 BEES AND BEE-KEEPING. 



the action of the ganglionic structures through which 

 the impressions pass. Those who have best studied 

 the most perfect eyes, know how true it is, that the 

 eye only looks, while that which lies behind it sees. 



Besides the faceted eyes, bees carry three simple 

 eyes, called ocelli, or stemmata (I, Plate IV.), on the 

 upper part of the head, although they are not placed 

 quite similarly in the two sexes (see A and B). These 

 eyes are very convex, and are adapted to short- 

 distance vision. Behind the simple lens (/, I), lie 

 structures much like those found in the compound 

 eyes. Indeed, these eyes, are posteriorly compound, 

 although anteriorly simple. It will be interesting to 

 note, by Fig. 12, page 53, and A, Plate IV., that the 

 cranium is so formed that the lateral ocelli should 

 have a range of vision sideways, while the middle 

 ocellus sees forwards, the hairs being so placed that 

 a clear outlook is preserved. 



The possession of the colour sense by bees has 

 been well ascertained, and Sir John Lubbock's* ex- 

 periments have most satisfactorily shown, not only 

 a power to distinguish between, but a preference 

 for, particular tones. They have no doubt been, in 

 consequence of this faculty, active agents in develop- 

 ing colour in blossoms, as we shall have occasion to 

 discuss in a future chapter ; while blossoms them- 

 selves, by reaction, have played an important part 

 in augmenting their powers of discrimination. 



The large space occupied in the head by the eye 

 structures has been strikingly shown by an interesting 

 case, recently brought to my notice, through the 



*" Ants, Wasps, and Bees" (International Science Series). 



