52 
THE SENSES OF BEES. 
effects which in other insects unquestionably proceed 
from the sense of hearing, we regard these effects 
as presumptive evidence of the former possessing 
the same faculty. Huber sets out with intimating a 
doubt of its existence, — possibly in deference to his 
friend Bonnet, to whom his letters are addressed, 
and who was an unbeliever in its reality, — yet in the 
end confesses that be is strongly tempted to believe 
in it, or at least to admit a sense in Bees analogous 
to hearing, observing that certain sounds, as produced 
by Bees, apparently serve as a signal to their com- 
panions, and are followed byregnlar consequences, and 
that, therefore, they may be additional means of com- 
munication to those afforded by the antenrite. He 
mentions particularly a sound emitted by the queen, 
which produces paralyzing effects on the Bees in 
certain circumstances. Describing the attempts of a 
reigning queen to destroy her rivals while yet in 
their cells, he tells us, that “ the Bees on guard 
pulled, bit her, and chased her away.” In these 
circumstances she emitted the sound alluded to; 
“standing, while doing so, with her thorax against 
a comb, and her wings crossed on her back, in 
motion, but without being unfolded or farther opened. 
Whatever might be the cause of her assuming this 
attitude, the Bees were affected by it ; all hung down 
their heads, and remained motionless."* On another 
occasion, after a queen had put her rival to death, 
“ she approached a royal cell, and took this moment 
to utter the sound, and assume that posture which 
* Huber, 157. 
