Eyes, Antennae, and Brain 45 



the bees, dropped her eggs anywhere, and did not resent 

 the presence of another queen. The workers did not seem 

 to recognize her ; and when finally she left the hive, they did 

 not follow her, and she returned no more. Drones and 

 workers behaved in a similar manner, stood idly near the 

 door of tlie hive, apparently attracted by the light, and at 

 length went away, doubtless soon to die. 



Without its antennae, the bee must soon starve, being 

 unable to find tlie fragrant nectar that is its food, or even 

 to take honey that is close at hand. Ruber's queen-bees 

 after losing their antennae thrust their tongues all about the 

 head of the worker that was trying to feed them without 

 being able to find its open mouth. 



Watch the captive bees when honey is given them. It is 

 the feelers that investigate the delicacy proffered under such 

 suspicious circumstances, and it is the feelers that, moving 

 this way and that, direct the more distant bees to the feast. 



It i^ the feelers that first lightly investigate the blossom 

 upon which the bee is placed, and direct it to the nectary, 

 or cause it to flee quickly from some distasteful bloom. 



The feelers can be moved easily in any direction, as they 

 are attached to the head by a convenient ball-and-socket- 

 like arrangement. Their first joint is long and acts as an 

 arm to turn in every direction the remainder of the organ, 

 which is composed in the case of the worker bee of eleven 

 short movable joints. So the outer portion of each 

 antenna is flexible, and can be curved or moved within 

 limits. 



The eight lower joints are covered by extremely delicate 

 sensory hairs that give to the antennae their peculiar sensi- 

 tiveness as organs of touch, even, it is believed, enabling 

 them to serve the purpose of extra eyes in performing the 

 labors of the dark hive. 



There are other coarser hairs, more abundant near the 



