Then there is the death’s-head moth, as it is called. You no doubt know that this is an insect which bears on its back markings like a skull, and hence its name. It sometimes enters a hive and makes a chirping noise. It is supposed that this fascinates the bees, and the moth is therefore able to take whatever it wants in the way of food. Bees have fleas too, and though they are not very formidable enemies, they are a nuisance. A picture of one of these tiny mites is found in Plate XXXIV. The worst enemies of the bees are diseases, of which there are several kinds. The most dreaded are dysentery and what is called the “Isle of Wight” disease. Many of our soldiers died of dysentery in the South African War, caused through their drinking bad water, and it is the same kind of illness which attacks the bees. The Isle of Wight disease is as peculiar as it is mysterious. It resembles the dreaded sleeping sickness from which natives of Africa suffer, and of which we have heard so much these last few years. The bees seem to lose all power of flying, and in a few days whole hives may die. It is called the Isle of Wight disease because it first appeared in that island a few years ago. [Illustration: PLATE XXXIV From a photo-micrograph by] [E. Hawks Parasite of Bee] CHAPTER XXXIX POWERS OF COMMUNICATION Bees have not, so far as we can tell, any system of language such as we have, but it is quite certain that they are able to communicate with one another. Not only can they communicate simple facts, but they actually can, in their way, talk or tell each other things. How this is accomplished without any voice we are not able to say, but it is certain that in this connection the wondrous antennæ play a most important part. If you watch bees on the board in front of the hive, you will see them sometimes march up to one another and gently cross the antennæ, as two duellists cross their swords before a fight. For a fraction of a second one seems to lightly tap the antennæ of the other, and it is evident that some communication is passing between them. It may be some important piece of news, or perhaps it is just some hive gossip, of interest to both the little insects. Who can tell?