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Eyes, Antenne, and Brain: John

They do not notice all sounds, but then, neither does any one else, and Sir John Lubbock's tuning-forks, whistles, and violins that failed to elicit any response from his bees may, as Cheshire has so well pointed out, be due to the fact that bees are not interested in the sounds of these instruments. Cheshire says, "Should some alien being watch humanity during a Eyes, Antennæ, and Brain thunder-storm, he might quite similarly decide that thunder was to us inaudible. Clap might follow clap without securing any external sign of recognition; yet let a little child with tiny voice but shriek for help, and all would at once be awakened to activity. So with the bee: sounds appealing to its instincts meet with immediate response, while others evoke no wasted emotion."

From another pen we read the following, "Every apiarist has noticed the effect of various sounds made by the bees upon their comrades of the hive; and how contagious is the sharp note of anger, and the pleasant tone of a new swarm as they commence to enter their new home."