Page:Jardine Naturalist's library Bees.djvu/56

 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 he 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 companions, and are followed by regular consequences, and that, therefore, they may be additional means of communication to those afforded by the antennæ. 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