54 - 
THE SENSES OP BEES. 
wrath, for she was evidently in a state of great irrita- 
tion, but continued to surround the cell of the captive 
queen with a dogged-looking obstinacy, apparently 
expecting and prepared for another attempt on it by 
the enraged sovereign. Huber may be in the right, 
and his general accuracy affords a presumption in his 
favour; nevertheless, it would be very satisfactory 
to have his accuracy in this particular point confirmed 
by some other observer. Taking it for granted that 
the sense of hearing does exist in Bees, where arc 
we to look for the situation of the organ ? Natura- 
lists are not agreed on this point, but the majority 
seem to vest it in the antc-nme. Kirby and Spence 
notice the analogy borne by antenna: to the ears of 
vertebrate animals, such as their corresponding in 
number, and standing out of the head ; and observe 
that no other organ has been found which can be 
supposed to represent the ear. In that case this ap- 
pendage of the head of the Bee must be regarded as 
a compound organ, exercising the functions of both 
hearing and touch. It has already been hinted that 
some observers have regarded it as the organ of 
vision ; and we shall afterwards find that there are 
those who look upon it as the organ of small. In 
this deficiency of precise knowledge on the subject 
we may perhaps rest satisfied with the opinion of 
Kirby, that “ the antenna:, by a peculiar structure, 
may collect notices from the atmosphere, receive 
pulses or vibrations, and communicate them to the 
sensorium, which communications, though not pre- 
cisely to be called hearing, may answer the same 
