90 OF THE SENSES OF 
apiary of numerous others resembling it, and returns 
in a straight line with great velocity, we must 
suppose that it is distinguished by marks escaping 
our notice. The bee departs, and flies straight to 
the most flowery field. Having ascertained its course, 
it is seen traversing it directly, as the flight of a 
cannon or musket ball. Its collection being made, 
it rises aloft in the air, to reconnoitre its hiye ; and 
returns with the rapidity of lightning.” * 
On this subject, very opposite opinions prevail ; 
for Wildman maintains, that he has observed bees 
searching for the door of their hive, and frequently 
been obliged to rise in the air again, in order to find 
it. This, according to the views of Dr Bevan, is, 
because they see objects at a distance better than 
those that are near, from the contraction of their 
eyes. The experiments of Dr Evans and Sir G. S. 
Mackenzie, both tend to support Wildman’s views. 
We are yet but imperfectly acquainted with the 
vision of insects ; and, from the great variety in the 
construction of their eyes, it is no wonder we should 
be so. For example, a centipede has twenty eyes, a 
spider has eight, and a butterfly and its congeners but 
two; but these two have thirty-five thousand facets 
in each. It may, therefore, seem remarkable, how 
they see but one object ; but it is not a more difficult 
question, than how we see but one object with two 
eyes. 
* Huser on Bees, Edinburgh Edition, p, 255, 
2 
