80 
and transmits ideas, is as true as that these are received 
and transmitted to and from the mute. For a few mo- 
ments go with me to the bee-hive, and see if I can con- 
verse with them. A gentle tap on the outside of the 
hive, — every bee with a short, buzzing noise answers 
from within, — all at home. This idea they have con- 
veyed to me. A little harder rap conveys the idea to 
them that something more is wanted outside; and imme- 
diately some of them make their appearance at the 
entrance of the hives, and fly around. This actually 
conveys the idea to me, Who is here ? That they 
simply take this way to say, Who is here, and what will 
you have ? I remark, I want some honey. The bee 
not understanding the sounds necessary to convey the 
idea to them, I attempt to approach the hive for this 
purpose ; they immediately catch the idea and answer 
by a sharp, shrill, humming sound, You can’t have it — 
stand back Mr. — I shall defend my home. I get a faint 
impression that they are becoming a little irritable, or a 
little too free with their threat; I bring my hand up as 
though I said, Don’t get in my face. The bees imme- 
diately answer, I have the same right to your face, that 
you have to my hone}', and suiting their actions to the 
ideas they wish to convey, they slip a dozen or two of 
ideas into my face and eyes from the end of their stings. 
I now understand, I have exchanged thoughts by actions 
with the bee, and am very sure that if I can’t talk lo 
them, their language is perfectly intelligible to me, just 
as much so as though words had been exchanged. Let 
a bee find sweet in any place, how soon he brings the 
inmates of his hive to assist in carrying it to his home. 
In swarming time, if the queen cannot leave the hive 
with them, how soon the bees that have left become 
