214 PERFECT SOCIETIES OF INSECTS. 



chance he happened to disturb the bees, and the ag- 

 glomerated mass in a tumult began to move different 

 ways, sending forth a great hum, in a very short time 

 so considerable an accession of heat was produced, 

 that when he touched the same square of glass, he felt 

 them as hot as if they had been held near a fierce fire. 

 By teasing the bees the heat generated was sometimes 

 so great, as to soften very much the wax of tlie combs, 

 and even to cause them to fall*. This generation of 

 heat in bee-hives seems to be one of those vnysteries of 

 nature that has not yet been satisfactorily accounted 

 for. Generally speaking, insects appear to have no 

 animal heat ; the temperature of their bodies being 

 usually that of the atmosphere in which they happen 

 to be. But bees are an exception to this rule, and pro- 

 duce heat in themselves. Whether they are the only 

 insect that can do this, as John Hunter affirms, or 

 whether others that are gregarious, such as humble- 

 bees, wasps, and ants, may not possess the same faculty, 

 seems not yet clearly ascertained. The heat in the 

 hive in the above instance was evidently occasioned by 

 the tumult into which the bees were put ; and the hum, 

 and motions that followed it, was probably the result of 

 their anger. But liow these act physically, in an ani- 

 mal that has no circulation, I am unable to say; and 

 must leate the question, like my predecessors, unde- 

 cided. 



And now, having detailed to you thus amply the 

 wonderful history and proceedings of the social tribes 

 of the insect world, you will allow, I think; that I have 



• Jleaum. v. 672. 



