spreading intelligence. Bee after bee protrudes its antennæ, and, crossing them with those of its next neighbour, disseminates in this way the sad news over the hive. Besides the antennæ, the feelers have been shown by experiment to possess a considerable degree of sensibility, and to serve in part as organs of touch. Such are the anatomical and physiological charac teristics of the common or working-bee. The duties of this order include almost the whole business of the bee community, as will be shown afterwards in detail. Hives differ greatly, of course, in the number of their inmates, taking them even at the same season. Some contain but a few thousands; others from twenty to thirty, forty, and even fifty thousand. Of these the drones compose but a thirtieth part, or little more; all the rest, with the exception of the queen, are workers. Drones or Males. The drones differ considerably in outward appearance from the workers. They are bulkier and flatter in body, with a round head, a shorter proboscis, and antenna with an additional articulation; they have no basket-cavity on their hind-legs, and their abdomen contains the means of secreting neither honey, wax, nor poison, while the reproductive organs are there found instead. They are called drones from the peculiarly loud noise which they make with their wings. It has been said that the drone is the male of the hive. He lives but for the reproduction of the race, and when the object of his existence is accomplished, he is doomed to die. The workers, who have their own winter food and that of the coming young to provide, instinctively pass sentence of death, at the fitting time, on a class that live only to feed, and who, if they ever stir from their luxurious nests, go out for pleasure, not toil. With the exceptions specified, the description given of the worker-bee applies also to the drone. in an instant, however distant the hive may be, it goes for the point with the directness of a cannon-ball, and usually alights at its own door, though the whole country be crowded with hives. Yet if the hive, or its door, has been shifted to a slight extent, the insect seems confused, and cannot find its way. The conclusion from this is, that the eyes of the bee have a lengthened focus, suiting them for the main purposes of its existence. But the consequent inability to determine accurately on short distances has been compensated to the creature by the antennae, which then become a highly serviceable resource. The sense of taste in bees has been the subject of much argumentation. Huber was of opinion that it was the most imperfect of their senses, and they have been observed to resort to putrid marshes for water, even when they were not restricted in their choice. Xenophon found his men seriously injured by taking honey produced by bees which had fed on deleterious plants. But, on the other hand, it has been noticed that they reject many substances, and prefer others, when a choice is allowed them; and it has been conjectured that they go to marshes purposely for the salt in their waters. Moreover, what renders the honey deleterious to man, may not be hurtful to bees. Honey, formed from a particular flower in the Jerseys, was found unfit for use from its intoxicating qualities; yet the bees throve wonderfully upon it at the same time. Their taste in selecting the richest flowers is likewise unquestionable. No doubt the sense of smell comes into operation on these occasions, as well as the sense of taste. Betwixt the influence and effects of the two, indeed, it is scarcely possible to discriminate. Even in the case of the human being, it is an established fact that the powers commonly ascribed to the sense of taste are to a remarkable degree dependent on the sense of smell. If the eyes be bandaged, and the apertures of the nose well shut up, the most experienced judge will be at a loss to determine between any two kinds of ardent spirits, or other pungent substances. The most nauseous medicines, also, much as they may usually seem to affect the taste, will be found almost insipid if the site of the sense of smell be closed up while they are swallowed. In bees, the site of the two senses seems to be almost one and the same. Many experiments of Huber seem to prove that the sense of smell lies in the mouth, and that it is very acute. He found that they hate the odour of turpentine, yet on plugging up the mouth they showed no disgust when placed beside that liquid. He concealed honey at considerable distances, and they in a very short time detected the hidden treasure. The acuteness of their sense of smell, in truth, is sufficiently proved by their admirable skill in tracking out, over hill and dale, the most fragrant flower-parterres and beds of mountain heath. The sense of hearing has been denied to bees by many observers, while others describe the antennae as their organs of hearing. The probabilities are in favour of the latter position. Noise, produced by the wings, and varied to suit particular purposes, is well known to be used as a mean of intercommunication; and Huber, though doubtful about avers that by a particular sound, emitted from the mouth apparently, the queen will render the whole hive silent and motionless in one instant. A certain sound, too, heard in the hive before swarming, is always followed by definite consequences. Such facts as these go far to establish the possession of hearing by bees; as signals by sound, made when the eyes could not detect the movement attending their production, would otherwise be valueless. The antennae have been mentioned as possessed, if not of hearing, at least of a delicate sense of touch. Huber points out a moonlight night as the best time for observing the uses of the antennae in this respect. The bees, guarding against the intrusion of moths, have not light enough to see taily, and they circumambulate their door with the antenne stretched right before them. The instant a moth is felt, it is destroyed. When the queen of a live is lost, the antennæ form a curious means of the faculty, Queen Bees. The queen-bee is of larger size than either the We propose now to give an account of the natural PROCEEDINGS OF BEES FROM FIRST SETTLEMENT IN THE HIVE. The breeding of young bees commences in February, and a hive, however thinned by the previous winter, becomes, under ordinarily favourable circumstances, crowded to excess in midsummer. Besides the developed bees, it abounds in eggs and young ones not matured. That fine instinct which, in the case of bees, occasionally prompts to acts almost above the power of reason, relieves this crowded state of things. The queen-bee, the proper mother of at least the great body of the hive, resolves upon departure with a swarm. The phenomena attending that departure will be noticed under a separate section; in the mean time let it be supposed that the queen has led off a colony, and a cup of fresh water may be placed in the cage daily. In the moulting season, it is recommended to put a nail into the water they drink, in order to strengthen the ɛystem by the slight infusion of iron matter. The breeding of canaries requires additional accommodations. The breeder must have a large cage, into which the pair of birds is put about the middle of April. At the upper part of the cage, at one end, boxes for the nests are placed, with holes to go out and in by; and in the centre of the cage, near a perch, a net-work bag is hung filled with cotton, wool, moss, hair, and other soft materials, for the birds to use for their nests. The female only builds; and in about ten days after pairing, she lays the first egg. She ordinarily lays six eggs, one every day; but each egg is to be taken away as laid, leaving an ivory one only; and when done laying, replace all the six. The period of incubation is thirteen days. When the young are hatched, finely minced egg and bread are placed at the feeding-trough, to enable the parents to carry suitable food to their young. Blackbirds. the best food for parrots is simply the crumbs of white bread, well baked, without salt, soaked in water, and then slightly squeezed in the hand. But though this appears to agree with them pretty well, it is, however, certain that now and then something else ought to be added. I have observed, indeed, that parrots which are thus fed are very thin, have hardly strength to bear moulting, and sometimes even do not moult at all; in that case they become asthmatic, and die of consumption. It is clear that feeding them only on this food, which has very little if any moisture in it, is net sufficient to nourish them properly, at least during the moulting season, and while the feathers are growing again. I never saw a parrot in better health than one which belonged to a lady, who fed it on white bread soaked in boiled milk, having more milk than the bread would absorb, which the parrot drank with apparent pleasure; there was also put into the drawer of its cage some sea biscuit, or white bread soaked in boiling waters it was also given fruit when in season. It is necessary to be very careful that the milk is not sour. Some young maccaws are fed on hemp-seed, which must always be of the year before, as the new would be too warm and dangerous. Yet they must not be fed entirely on this food, but there must be added white bread soaked in milk or water, as has already been mentioned, some fruit and nuts, but never bitter almonds, as they will infallibly kill all young animals. In all cases the excrements of the bird will indicate the state of its health, and whether the food ought to be changed or not. The male blackbird is a handsome creature, lively in manner, and possessing some sweet "wood-notes wild," which sound most agreeably from a garden or the outside of a window. The bird requires a large wicker cage, which, whenever weather permits, ought to be hung in the open air. In a state of nature, the blackbird eats berries, seeds, insects, larvæ, and worms. It loves to run about a grass-plot in the spring mornings, and pick up any stray worm which is straggling from its hole. This habit suggests the propriety of giving Although maccaws rarely want to drink, as their it, when in confinement, both vegetable and animal food is very moist, yet they must not be left without food. The universal paste will answer; but if too heat-water, which is generally placed in one of the divisions ing, which it is liable to be, give bits of bread, flies, cockchaffers, worms; and failing these, chopped raw meat. A rough bone from the table will also not be inappropriate. A short experience will show upon which kinds of food the creature thrives best, and let that be adhered to. Give also plenty of pure water to drink; and once a-week, when the sun shines, set a basin of water in the cage for it to bathe in and clean itself. Let the cage be carefully and regularly cleaned. Parrots. of their tin drawer. It is also a good thing to entice them to bathe; nothing is more favourable to their health, or better facilitates the painful operation of moulting, or keeps their feathers in better order. A little attention to these favourites, deprived of their liberty, their natural climate, and food, cannot be too much trouble to amiable persons who are fond of them, and to whom these pretty birds become greatly at tached." The cockatoo is generally esteemed as of mider temper than the parrot. Of this species, Buffon e serves" Cockatoos, which may be known by their Under this head may be classed a number of beaked birds of similar character, as parrots, parrakeets, cock-tuft, are not easily taught to speak; and there is one atoos, and maccaws, all possessing beautiful plumage of green, yellow, or greyish tints. They are chiefly from South America, and require the warmth of a dwelling-house to keep them alive in this country. All possess harsh voices, and would on that account be considered a positive nuisance by most persons, except for the oddity of their being able to repeat certain words; but this is a quality possessed by some in greater perfection than others. Each kind of these birds may be treated much in the same manner. They are allowed a large cage formed of strong wires, with thick round bars to perch upon, and a ring at top to swing from by their hooked beak. All the parts must be of tin, for they would soon pick wood to pieces. In the Zoological Gardens, they are usually seen perched on a cross-bar of tin at the top of a staff, but chained by the leg to pre-to spread out their tuft, or salute people with a bend f vent their escape. species which does not speak at all; but this is in some measure compensated for by the great facrity with which they are tamed; in some parts of India ther are even so far domesticated that they will build their nests on the roofs of the houses: this facility of educstion is owing to their intelligence, which is very supe rior to that of other parrots. They listen, understand, and obey; but it is in vain that they make the same efforts to repeat what is said to them; they wish to make up for it by other expressions of fee and by affectionate caresses. There is a mildness and grace in all their movements, which greatly add their beauty. In March 1775, there were two, and female, at the fair of St Germain, in Paris whe obeyed with great docility the orders given them, either seem to 8 the head, or to touch different objects with their be The food offered to parrots, maccaws, &c., is chiefly and tongue, or to reply to questions from their maste bread steeped in milk, nuts, or any other simple article. with a mark of assent, which clearly expressed as Care must be taken never to give them any thing with yes: they also showed by repeated signs the number salt or pepper. On the subject of feeding them, Bech-persons in the room, the hour of day, the colour stein makes the following observations: In its native clothes, &c.; they kissed one another by touching th country, the fruit of the palm-tree is its principal food; beaks, and even caressed each other; this shor our fruit it also likes, but white bread soaked in milk wish to pair, and the master affirms that they often agrees with it better; biscuit does not hurt it; but meat, so even in our climates. Though the cockato sweetmeats, and other niceties, are very injurious; other parrots, use their bill in ascending and dece and though at first it does not appear to be injured, it ing, yet they have not their heavy disagreeable st becomes unhealthy, its feathers stand up separate, it on the contrary, they are very active, and bop als pecks and tears them, above all those on the first joint very nimbly." of the pinion, and it even makes holes in different parts of its body. It drinks little-this is perhaps occasioned Printed and published by W. and R. CHAMBERS, Ed** by its eating nothing dry. Many bird-fanciers say that Sold also by W. S. Onn and Co., London. CHAMBERS'S INFORMATION FOR THE PEOPLE. NUMBER 81. CONDUCTED BY WILLIAM AND ROBERT CHAMBERS, EDITORS OF CHAMBERS'S HONEY BEES. Of the family of the Social Apidae or Honey-Bees, two species seem to exist in Europe, the one found in the north, and the other in the south; but, making allowance for a slight deepening of tint from brown to red in the rings of the body in the case of the more southerly insect, the description of the common hivebee of Britain will apply to the other in all important respects. A hive of honey or garden-bees contains three orders of inhabitants, the external characters of which differ considerably, while their uses and functions in the community are most markedly distinct. The most important, and by far the most numerous, order is that of the workers, or working-bees, formerly regarded as neuters in respect of sex, but now more properly considered as undeveloped females. second order is composed of the males of the hive, termed the drones. There is usually but one perfect member of the third order present at a time in a live, and this is the queen-bee, the sole female of the com The THE subject of Bees, which is equally extensive and interesting, has for many ages attracted the attention of mankind. The Sacred Writings, the most ancient of which we have any knowledge, show in numerous places how strongly the fathers of the Jewish people had been impressed by the peculiarities in the natural history of the Bee; and we know that Aristotle and other philosophers of old Greece deemed the subject worthy of years of patient investigation. Virgil, also, and many other Roman writers, dwelt on it with en-munity. thusiasm in their writings; while, in much later times, The working honey-bee has a body about half an Swammerdam and other distinguished cultivators of inch in length, blackish-brown in hue, and covered science have pursued the same track with undiminished with close-set hairs, which are feather-shaped, and ardour. The most zealous of these inquirers was Francis assist the creature materially in collecting the farina of Huber (born at Geneva 1750, died 1831), who, though flowers. The head, which is a flattened triangle in labouring under the deprivation of sight, by the aid of shape, is attached to the chest by a thin ligament; and his wife formed a most valuable collection of observa- the chest or thorax, which is of a spherical form, is tions on the habits of bees, and to whose work we shall united in a similar slight way to the abdomen. The have occasion to refer. Societies have also been formed abdomen is divided into six scaly rings, which shorten for the sole purpose of investigating this portion of the body by slipping over one another to a certain exnatural history. A mere summary of the interesting tent. These three external divisions of the insect's essays, therefore, which this insect, so universally ap- body have all of them appendages of peculiar interest preciated, has called forth, would occupy a very large and utility. The head is provided with a double visual space. On the present occasion, an attempt can only apparatus. In front are placed two eyes, consisting each be made to cull from the most approved sources such of numerous hexagonal plates, studded with hairs to details as may form a complete history of the Bee, ward off the dust or pollen of flowers; and three small though at the same time it must necessarily be a con- eyes are also to be found on the very top of the head, cise one, along with directions for the practical ma- intended, doubtless, both to heighten the general sense Bagement of this most useful animal. of seeing, which the creature so peculiarly requires, Bees are arranged by zoologists into the family of and to give a defensive vision upwards from the cups the Apidae (from apis, a bee), in the order Hymenoptera of flowers. The antenne, however, which are two having four unequal membranaceous wings) of the slender tubes springing from betwixt the front eyes, Insect class. The Social Apidae form the principal and curving outwards on each side, most probably fullivision of the family, their type being the Apis Mel-fil many of the purposes of vision in the dark interior fica, the Honey-making, or, in common phrase, the of the hive. These instruments have each of them doney-Bee. It is so called not from an exclusive pe- twelve articulations, and terminate in a knob, gifted uliarity, but because it is the species which has long with the most delicate sensitiveness. By the flexibility elded to man the rich product indicated in its name. of the antenna, the bee is enabled to feel and grasp s the observations to follow will have reference to any object in its way; and there can be little doubt that that, by the care of the owner of the bees, the swarm | and they are prepared to take up the work. This clus is lodged in a new and empty hive. tering occurs on the very entrance of a swarm into a hive, when a seeming inactivity of several hours takes place, till the production of wax is set a-going. It will be seen that the second section, the architects-proper, have the most unremitting toil to perform. They never quit it when once begun, excepting to turn to the little waiters of the third section, and indicate their hunger by holding out their trunk, when the caterer either spirts out a drop or two of honey, or furnishes pollen from the stores brought in. The first object of the community is to clean out Cells. in But if the labour of the architect class be severe, their work, when complete, is a marvel of instinctive ingenuity. Bees always begin their work, in ordinary circumstances, at the ceiling, suspending their structures from it. Their combs, or clusters of cells, are arranged in vertical and parallel strata, with a space of about half an inch betwixt contiguous pairs; and each comb is nearly an inch in thickness. At the outset, when one wax-making bee leaves the suspended cluster alluded to, and lays the foundation of a cell, others follow in rapid succession, not only adding their wax to that of the first, but soon commencing new combs, one on each side; and so the work goes on, most cases, until the whole roof is covered with founda tions. The architects-proper, also, are meanwhile at their finishing work. They have, says Reaumur, to solve this difficult geometrical problem: "A quantity of wax being given, to form of it similar and equal cells of a determinate capacity, but of the largest size in pro portion to the matter employed, and disposed in such a manner as to occupy the least possible space in the hive." Wonderful to reflect upon, this problem is solved by bees in all its conditions, in their construction of hexagonal or six-sided cells. The square and the equilateral triangle are the only other two figures of cells which could make them all equal and similar without interstices. But cells of these figures would have either consumed more material or have been weaker; and they would also have consumed more space, being less adapted to the form of the bee. In short, the hexagonal form combines all the requisites of economy and capacity. Another wonderful arrange ment is seen in the construction of the bottoms of the cells. Each of these is composed of three rhombs, or plates of wax in the shape of card-diamonds, disposed in such a manner as to form a hollow pyramid, the apex of which forms the angles of the bases of three cells en the opposite side, giving to each of them one of the three diamond-shaped plates which is required to form their bases. Now, the three rhombs, composing each cellbottom, have the two obtuse angles each of 110 degrees, and, consequently, each of the two acute angles of 70 degrees. Koenig, on being desired by Reaumur to cal culate the exact angle which would give the greatest economy of wax in a cell of such capacity, found that the angle should be 109 degrees 26 minutes, or 110 degrees nearly. Other geometricians have arrived similar conclusions. The problem is one of great diffculty, yet the bee practically solves it at once, under the guidance of the Great Geometrician who made both the bee and the law on which it proceeds. Attempte have been made to ascribe the form of the cells to the peculiar shape of the head of the bee, and the instru ments which it employs; but all such explanations have been found liable to insuperable objections. In the mean time, while some workers are using the propolis for the purposes first stated, others are commencing the preparation of the cells or combs. The propolis is employed to attach these to the edges of the hive, but wax is the component material of the cells themselves. We shall find, in noticing the after arrangements of the completed hive, that the working-bees are naturally divided into two great classes; but at the outset of their labours, when the cells are being constructed, they form three sections, each of which pursues its allotted toil with admirable order and regularity. One section produces the material for the combs, and forms it roughly into cells; the second division follows the first, examines and adjusts the angles, removes all the superfluous wax, and perfects the work; while the third band passes continually out and in, seeking and bring ing provisions, chiefly pollen, for the second section, which never quits the hive. The first class flies abroad at intervals, it being necessary that they should have rich saccharine food for the secretion of the wax. The cells of the bee are extremely delicate, two of three plates or sides being of the consistence o of a common leaf of paper. They are made strong. however, by mutual support and other means. Dr sides a sort of froth which the insect mixes with wax, the cells, at first of a dull white, soon app the secretion goes on best in a state of repose, bands of plastering over them of a compound varnish of As yellow on the interior, the change arising from the wax-producers, after feeding fully, suspend them- and propolis. Each cell is soldered, too, at its selves in clusters from the roof, each hanging from the by a similar compound of a reddish colour, having queen, at her first laying, produces the eggs of workerbees alone. At the end of the space mentioned, a considerable laying of the eggs of drones commences; and soon after the appearance of these, the workers of the hive, with a strange instinct, begin to prepare royal cells for the queen-eggs that are certain to follow. Altogether, the fruitfulness of the female bee is amazing, from one to two hundred eggs a-day being the usual amount of her produce. One hundred thousand is said to be no very uncommon number of young for her to give origin to in a season. A swarm consisting of 2000 or 3000 in the beginning of the year, will throw off in June swarms amounting to 40,000 or 50,000; in many cases the first swarm, and in some the cast or second swarm, throw off colonies of 10,000 or 12,000; and yet the original stock is left augmented to the number of 18,000 or 20,000. Occasionally, a first swarm even casts twice. are laid around the walls to bind and strengthen them | It is now to be observed that all cells are not alike. They have four different uses in the economy of the hive, and are constructed variously to suit these. One set of cells is for holding the eggs or embryos of workerbees; a second for those of males or drones; a third for those of young queens, hence called royal cells; and a fourth set are for the reception of honey and pollen. The first are generally about five lines in depth (or less than half an inch), and two lines and two-fifths in diameter. The cells of the young males are much less numerous, and measure from six to seven lines in depth, by three and a half in diameter. It is worthy of note, that in passing from the construction of worker-cells to those of drones, in the same comb, the architects do not alter the size at once, but gradually, thus disordering in the slightest possible degree the delicate arrangement of the bases of the cells. In shifting from larger to smaller, the same rule is observed. A small number only of royal cells, about ten or twelve, are constructed on ordinary occasions. They are about an inch in depth, and nearly one-third of an inch in width, with walls about an eighth of an inch in thickness. After the breeding season is over, the cells both of worker and male bees are used for holding honey. Those made purposely for that end are chiefly marked by a greater divergence from the horizontal plane, that the honey may be better secured; and it is curious to observe that, in a very warm season, these wise insects give the floor a still greater dip from the mouth inwards. As the store enlarges, they seal up the mouth with a ring of wax, to which they gradually add concentric layers till the cell is filled, when they close it altogether. Pollen is kept in cells of considerable size. Laying of Eggs. Transformation of Worker-Bees. A fertilised queen is so impatient to begin her laying of worker-eggs, that, in a new hive, she only waits till a few inches of comb are erected. Before depositing the egg, she carefully examines the cell, and, if satisfied, turns and drops into it from the oviduct an egg of an oval shape and bluish-white tint. Here the egg remains for three days attached by a viscous fluid to the corner of the cell; and, on the fourth, the thin outer shell of the egg bursts, exposing a small lively worm. Now come into play the nurses or nursing-bees, one of the two great classes into which Huber and others consider the labourers of the hive to be divided. The other class are the wax-workers. Both elaborate honey, but the latter class alone make wax and form combs. Again, the nurses, whose figure may be distinguished from its being more ovoidal than the others, are those who A very short time elapses ere a great number of alone take care of the young. As soon as the egg is cells are constructed; for, in the height of the honey hatched, they watch over the larva or worm with the season, a good swarm has been known to build four tenderest and most incessant care, administering thousand in a day. The queen-mother very soon copious supplies of mixed pollen, honey, and water, begins the task of laying eggs. A thousand con- which the nursling devours with avidity. Like other jectures have been hazarded as to the mode in larvæ, soon grows so as to cast its cuticle; and, five which the fecundation of the female bee takes place. days after chipping the shell, it has become large No observer has yet been able to discover any con- enough to fill the cell, lying coiled up like a ring. It tact with the drones in the hive. It was supposed now ceases to eat, and the bees seal up the cell with by Swammerdam that a certain aura or odour from wax. Left to itself, the larva begins the process of the drones was all that was necessary to render the spinning a cocoon round its body, which it does in eggs of the queen productive; while M. Debrau ima- thirty-six hours, the material being a fine silken thread gined that the eggs, as in the case of frogs and fishes, from the mouth of the spinner. In three days more it were fecundated by a fluid from the drone after being is converted into the state of pupa or chrysalis, when laid. M. Hattorf thought, again, that the queen was all the parts of the future bee become gradually visible fecundated by herself alone. All these opinions M. through the transparent covering, assuming a darker Huber refuted in a satisfactory manner, by separations hue day by day, and progressing to the state of the and confinements of the insects in various ways. He complete imago or insect. On the twentieth day from at length came to the belief, founded on experiments the deposition of the egg, the young bee begins to cut which appear almost decisive of the question, that through its prison-door with its mandibles, and in half the female bee never becomes fruitful in the hive, but an hour makes its escape. Old writers say that the requires to go abroad for that purpose; and it has been elder bees fondly caress and feed the new-comer; but also thought probable that the fecundation takes place later observers, of no mean authority, declare that, on by contact in the air, as is known to occur in the case of the contrary, they seem to think their duty ended with winged ants. The number of drones in a live has been the closing up of the cell, and leave the young stranger thought a most unintelligible circumstance. M. Huber's to shift for itself in the busy world. One thing, howviews explain the matter fully. It is essential that they ever, is done by the elder bees. They instantly clean should be numerous, that the female may have a chance out the vacated cell, and prepare it again for eggs or of meeting them abroad; and it is to be observed that honey, leaving at the same time the silk cocoon adher she always quits the hive at the hour when the drones ing to the walls. leave it, or immediately afterwards. One intercourse is sufficient, according to Huber's experiments, to ren Eggs of Drones-Royal Eggs. der the female bee productive for at least two seasons; The passage of male eggs through the larva and work. M. Huber discovered that the queen begins to lay Eg forty-six hours after returning from the flight during which fecundation takes place. For the space of eleven months, under ordinary circumstances, a that the process occupies a little more time, twenty- |