The Worker i 39 



that is soon to be developed, and then beginning to respire 

 at first very gradually. In a short time the respirations 

 become more and more frequent, until at length they are 

 increased to one hundred and twenty, or one hundred and 

 thirty, per minute. 



" The body of the insect soon becomes of a high tempera- 

 ture, and, on close inspection, is often found to be bathed 

 with perspiration. When this is the case the temperature 

 of the insect soon becomes reduced, and the insect leaves 

 the cell, and another bee almost immediately takes her 

 place. When respiration is performed less violently, and 

 consequently less heat is evolved, the same bee will often 

 continue on a cell for many hours in succession. This 

 extreme amount of heat was evolved entirely by an act of 

 will in accelerating the respiratory efforts, a strong indica- 

 tion of the relation which subsists between the function of 

 respiration and the development of animal heat." 



The habit of placing a guard before their door, ascribed 

 to the bees of antiquity, is the habit of the bees of to-day, 

 as can be proved by striking the hive, when out rush the 

 sentinels to learn the cause of the disturbance. 



Sir John Lubbock ascertained by marking the bees that 

 came out, and then calling them up at intervals, that the 

 same ones stood on guard for at least several days in 

 succession. 



" Bees," says Huber, " preserve a sufficient guard, day 

 and night, at the entrance of their habitation. These vigi- 

 lant sentinels examine whatever is presented, and, as if 

 distrusting their eyes, they touch with the antennae every 

 individual endeavoring to penetrate the hive, and also the 

 various substances put within their reach, which affords us 

 an opportunity of observing that the antennae are certainly 

 the organs of feeling. If a stranger queen appears, her 

 entry is prevented by the bees on guard instantly laying 



