The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-11-20
SOME ANIMAL MYSTERIES.
UNIQUE LABORATORY TO SOLVE
SECRETS OF LIFE.

and Insects VIII Be Studied-First
Institution of the Kind in the
nOrId-Why Monkeys Do Not Talk,
the working Power of a Bee, why
Il Chameleon ChRnges Color, and
other strange Questions to lie An
sUered.
Philadelphia, Nov. 1S-The University of
pennsylvania has set itself to answer some
of these strange questions;
Why do not monkeys talk, when their
vocal organs are quite as perfect as those
of many human beings?
why and how does the chameleon change
color?
Why do animals in captivity fail to
breed?
Exactly how much honey will an indus
rious bee gather in one day?
DO animals dream?
These and score of other geological
questions quite as interesting, will be
studied in the new experimental labora-
tory for live animals which the UNIVERSE
~ of Pennsylvania is now constructing.
1t will be the first institution of the kind
ever built as an adjunct to college or
university There will be cages for large
animals, aviaries for birds, lofts for bats,
aquariums for fish, rooms for insects, and
in all of these departments a maze of ap-
paratus for carrying on experiments.
Scientists generally are viewing this
new departure of the University of Penn
sylvania with much more than ordinary
interest, because it is hoped that many
of the greatest problems in animal life
will be solved by it, In the past zoolo-
gists have confined themselves almost
wholly to the comparative anatomy of
beasts, birds and insects, without making
any very systematic efforts to investigate
their curious habits, contrasts and traits,
which might, if explained, have a very
definite bearing on the general problem of
existence. Desultory efforts have been
made in the past, but no great institution
has hitherto taken up the subject on
comparative scale, consequently the eX-
perimental laboratory of the University of
Pennsylvania, now we'll under way, is
looked upon with remarkable interest.
Bees Photographed in Glass Hives.
Just how the problem viii be solved has
not yet been decided upon in all cases,
but some of the proposed experiments are
interesting in prospect. For instance, in
to construct special observation hives; for
although this insect has been serving man
for centuries, we are not nearly so init
mate with its habits as we might be. The
hives will have glass windows, which can
be opened on occasion and photographs
made of what is going on inside. 1t is not
known just how much honey each bee will
collect in the course of a day, nor how
long it will be gone on each excursion
ba
will be made for ascertaining this infor-
nation. From the door of each hive a
leng tube-like passageway will lead COM
posed for the most part of glass, but in
places of wood and metal. In this tube
or front hallway of the hive, there will
be a little vestibule or chamber in which
the bee can be confined momentarily on
his way in or out of the hive. The floor
of the vestibule will really be the plat
form OF very delicate weighing instru-
ment. When a bee starts to leave the hive
it will be allowed to walk along the pas
sageway, but when 1t reaches the exit the
insect viii find its way obstructed by
little glass door. Immediately another
glass door will be slipped down behind the
honey gatherer and when, as it walks
around the little chamber, its weight cam
be had accurately, the scale being adjust
ed to the fraction of a gramme Next a
paint, ink or other coloring substance on
the back of the bee for the purpose of flu
tcre identification, a record being taken
Oh the color and shape of the spot of this
coioring substance. The insect will then
be released and allowed to proceed in
quest OF sweets. When it returns a note
VIII be made of how long it was absent
and when it passes the vestibule It will
agaln be weighed, the increase being re.
corded a ritFo1a
honey gathered. The different changes
which take place in the Matching of
orones and workers among the bees will
De carefully studied; also the curious
method by which the bees are enabled to
construct queen eggs when the regular
queen eggs have been destroyed and their
Is no resident queen to lay others. The
reason why bees live under a system of
PoIyandry will also be traced to lis origin.
If possible -"
Ant Hills With Windows.
Ants will be given as much study as
oees Large colonies will be established
10 and outside the animal house They
VIII be induced TO construct their nests
VI nils IN especially prepared places so
mat as stated intervals the inside of
me ant habitation may be examined at
via Heretofore an intimate knowledge
Vi ants and their ways has been acct
0i'ialiy OBTAINED or inVes tiga tors have
ueeh hampered by a forced cessation
OF the every day habits of the insects
|hen their nests were demolished to al
low the investigator peep at the in
sue rms will be avoided if possible
at the University of Pennsylvania by
tae adoption of some window principle
"hlch will enable the students to see
inside the nest without taking it apart
I W OF the odd things to be sought will
De the reason why some species of ants
WA permit themselves to be made
saves when they are born in captivity,
whereas when they are born in a free
sldte they will fiercely fight their cap
Tors. For instance certain colonies of
ants viii go on a veritable raid through
tne haohatons of a neighboring species
ana after a determined battle viii carry
OH the eggs of their victims aud de-
poSlt them in their own habitation.
Lhey viii nourish these eggs and cause
'nem to hatch and the progeny of the
AMEN eggs will >consent apparently TO