Mr. Newport on the Aqueous Vapour expelled from Bee-hives. 279 
as on the preceding morning, was 10°5 Fahr. above that of the open atmosphere, 
and 2*5 above that of the top of the hive. At six o'clock of the evening of the . 
same day, when the temperature was sinking, and was then only 53°°9 Fahr., 
that of the vapour in the phial, taken as before, was only 59°. The hive had . 
then become quiet for the night, and its temperature was reduced. The tem- 
perature of the expelled air was thus shown to depend much on the degree of 
activity or quiescence of the bees, and consequently on the greater or smaller 
amount of their respiration. The bees were now in a state of rest, and respired 
but little; while in the morning they were becoming active, and preparing to 
enter upon their labours. During this night the temperature of the atmo- 
sphere sunk down to 32° Fahr.; and when I again examined it in the morning, 
September 4th, at six o'clock, it had risen only to 41°5 Fahr. The hive was 
then quiet, the bees had been reposing all night, and were disposed to pass 
into their state of semi-hybernation. The temperature of the interior, at the 
top of the hive, was then only 54° Fahr., and that of the vapour in the phial, 
even at the entrance-hole of the hive, was but 59° Fahr.; and the quantity of 
vapour’ condensed within the phial scarcely amounted to so much as three 
minims. These concordant circumstances seem to prove that the vapour 
expelled from the hive results in chief part from the respiration of the bees, 
and the extraneous transpiration from their bodies ; that this is most abundant 
when the bees are most active and are respiring freely, and when the greatest 
amount of heat is evolved by them. On the contrary, as the activity of the 
bees is diminished, the temperature of the hive becomes reduced and the 
quantity of air deteriorated, and the vapour expelled is lessened. And may 
we not also conclude from the fact, that the vapour, which thus seems to be 
the result of respiration by the bees, and which is condensed and deposited 
as it issues forth, holds in solution a superabundance of carbonaceous matter, 
which is deposited with it, and occasions the discoloration of the combs and 
of the entrance to the hive ? | 
