Curiosities & wonders > New observations on the natural history of bees

274 USE OF THE ANTENNJE
miss her; the works of every kind advance; i
order and tranquillity are uninterrupted; t
nor is it until an hour from her departure
that disquiet testifies itself among the work-1
ers, when they hurriedly traverse the hive,
and are no longer engrossed by care ofis
the young. Yet the first symptoms of >
agitation are not felt every where at once.!
They originate on a single portion of the
combs; the disturbed bees soon quit their
little circle, and meeting their companions,;
the antennae are reciprocally crossed, and
they slightly strike them. Those receiving ,
the blow of the antennae become agitated in’
their turn, and carry trouble and confu¬
sion to other places; the disorder augment-i
ing in rapid progression, gains the opposite;
side of the comb, and is at length dissemi¬
nated throughout the colony. Then are
the workers seen running over the combs,
rushing against each other, and impetuous¬
ly hurrying towards the outlets of the hive, j
From thence they disperse themselves
around. They return and depart repeated- '
ly; the buzzing is very great within, and it !
increases with the disorder of the bees. ;
This continues, however, only two or three
hours, seldom four or five, but never longer.