356 DISEASE OF THE AiNTENN^E. 



This is, however, a malady the more dangerous, as there 

 are no signs exhibited by which it can be known. The 

 pedestal is covered with the bodies of the dead ; and the 

 proprietor draws the conclusion, that the bees have died of 

 old age, or been murdered by their companions. 



The antennas of the bee are subject to a disease, but it is 

 of so rare an occurrence, and has fallen so little under the 

 notice of naturalists, as to be scarcely worthy of notice. It 

 is known by the extremities of the antennae assuming a 

 yellow colour, with a slight swelling, similar to the bud of 

 a flower just ready to burst. It however frequently happens, 

 when the bee has been working upon those flowers which 

 are rich in farina, that its antennas and even its whole body 

 will be covered with a kind of golden dust ; and we are not 

 quite certain, when Mr. Ducouedic attributed the disease 

 to the farina of the broom, which is one of the richest of all 

 'shrubs in that substance, that he did not mistake a natural 

 effect for the symptoms of a disease, and which always 

 shows itself when the labours of the bee are at their height. 



The abortive brood, although it cannot be classed amongst 

 the actual diseases of the bees, yet it may be regarded as the 

 cause of the death of a number of bees, if not the ruin of 

 many hives, as it engenders a corrupted air in the hive, 

 which is highly injurious to the bees. The signs of abortive 

 brood are very easy to be distinguished, for when the brood 

 is in a healthy state, the top of the cells presents a convex 

 appearance ; but when the contrary is the case, the top has, as 

 it were, fallen in, and is concave and of a blackish hue. It is 

 by no means an uncommon sight to see a bee dragging out 

 an abortive nymph ; at the same time, it is not the sign of 

 a prosperous hive, when the bees are seen to drag out many 

 of them. It has been recommended by some apiarians to 

 cut out the combs in which the abortive brood is known 

 to exist ; and this recommendation would be good, provided 

 it could be carried into execution ; but how can a few cells 



