MIGRATIONS OF BEES. 289 



the inhabitants of a hive to be aware of a project 

 which will not be put in execution before noon, or 

 some hours later ; otherwise, why should bees, who 

 worked the day previous with so much activity, cease 

 their labours in a habitation they are to quit at noon. 

 There is a well-known anecdote of an old grenadier, 

 who, being seen resting inactive, while his less expe- 

 rienced comrades were busily pitching their tents, 

 Marshal Turenne, his general, asked him why he 

 did not bestir himself like the rest, — ^ Because,' he 

 rephed, ^ we shall have to march again in a few 

 hours ' — a reason which the bees, intending to emi- 

 grate, well understand. * 



About the same time an unusual number of male 

 bees may be observed on the outside of the hive, as 

 well as a body of workers clustered together at its 

 entrance, driven thither, it has been conjectured, in 

 consequence of the heat of the hive, arising from the 

 agitation among the inhabitants, — the usual spring 

 temperature of the hive from 90° to 97° being thus 

 augmented to 104°. This is farther increased by 

 the heat of the sun, for a swarm is seldom, if ever, 

 seen, except when the sun shines and the air is 

 calm, — so much so, that if but a cloud pass before 

 the sua, all the agitation coincident with their prepa- 

 ration to depart is intermitted. It has even been 

 imagined that they can foresee fine weather, though 

 the circumstance just mentioned shows that their 

 foresight in this respect must be very limited ; be- 

 sides, swarms are not unfrequently caught in a 

 shower and obliged to return to the hive for shelter. 

 Reaumur had one which set out at one o'clock and 

 was caught in a shower at three. At the same time, 

 it is certain that they are always feverishly alive to 

 the state of the weather ; and while ranging in the 



* Reaumur, Mem. v, 611. 

 VOL. XII. 25 



