' 192 I'KllFECT SOCIETIES OF INSECTS. 



feet the reverse of that which it really prockices; the 

 former imagining it to occasion directly the high tempe- 

 rature of the hive, and the latter indirectly *. It was re- 

 served for Huber to discover the true cause of it; and 

 from him the chief of what I have to say upon the sub- 

 ject will be derived ^. 



During the summer a certain number of workers — for 

 it is to the workers solely that this office is committed — 

 may always be observed vibrating their wings before the 

 entrance of their hive ; and the observant apiarist will 

 find upon examination, that a still greater number are 

 engaged within it in the same employment. All those 

 thus circumstanced that stand without, turn their head 

 to the entrance ; while those that stand within, turn their 

 back to it. The station of these ventilators is upon the 

 floor of the hive. They are usually ranged in files, that 

 terminate at the entrance ; and sometimes, but not con- 

 stantly, form so many diverging rays, probably to give 

 room for comers and goers to pass. The number of 

 ventilators in action at the same time varies : it seldom 

 much exceeds twenty, and is often more circumscribed. 

 The time also that they devote to this function is longer 

 or shorter accordinof to circumstances : some have been 

 observed to continue their vibrations for nearly half an 

 hour without resting, suspending the action for not more 

 than an instant, as it should seem to take breath. When 

 one retires, another occupies its place ; so that in a hive 

 well peopled there is never any hiterruption of the sound 

 or humming occasioned by this action ; by which it may 

 always be known whether it be going on or not. 



This humming is observable not only during the 

 " Reauni. v. 672. " Huber, ii. 338— 3Gi'. 



