On again looking at the plate, you will observe that the scape is covered by numerous hairs, which are both long and fine. The first three joints of the flagellum are also covered with hairs, which, however, are not like those of the scape, for they are much shorter and thicker. They look more like bristles, and all point in a downward direction. The remaining eight joints are covered with multitudes of still smaller hairs, and these again differ in their construction. To give you some idea of the complicated nature of the antennæ, I may tell you that the drone possesses over 2000 of these hairs on each one, whilst the worker has about 14,000. Each hair is connected with a nerve which is so delicate that the faintest touch of anything would be easily felt. The nerves are contained in the central part of the antennæ, which is hollow, and from there they lead to the ganglia. The bee can tell instantly the shape, height, and nature of any object by simply passing the antennæ over it. You know that if a person comes noiselessly behind you, say whilst you are reading, and lightly touches one of your hairs, you can feel the touch instantly. That is because each hair, like those of the bee, is connected with a nerve. You will easily understand, however, that the hairs and nerves of the bee are infinitely more sensitive than ours. It is necessary that the tiny workers should be provided with some means of doing things in the dark, for all the work of the hive has to be done under these conditions. The antennæ serve this purpose perfectly. In a very powerful microscope it is found that the places between the hairs, in most of the antennæ joints at any rate, are covered with tiny oval-shaped holes and depressions. The nature and use of these holes are most difficult for us to understand, and it is not yet properly known for what they are really intended. In the first place, they are so very tiny that we can hardly imagine their size. They measure only about 1/10,000th part of an inch across, and each is surrounded by a minute ring of a bright orange colour. It is supposed, and I think it is quite probable, that by the aid of these holes the bee hears. There is not the slightest doubt that bees can hear, though at one time people had quite decided that they were perfectly deaf!