PERFECT SOCIETIES OF INSECTS. 195 



less. The same experiment was next repeated with the 

 door shut, with precisely the same result. After the air 

 of the vessel had been renewed, the taper was again in- 

 troduced, and the ventilator set in motion : immediately, 

 as appeared by the oscillations of the anemometers, two 

 currents of air were established, and the brilliancy of 

 the flame was not diminished during the whole course of 

 the experiment, which might have been prolonged for an 

 indefinite time. A thermometer placed in the lower part 

 of the apparatus rose to 112 ; and the temperature was 

 evidently still more elevated at the top of the receiver. 



The Creator often has one end in view in the actions 

 of animals, (and nothing more conspicuously displays 

 the invisible hand that governs the universe,) while the 

 agents themselves have another. This probably is the 

 case in the present instance, since we can scarcely sup- 

 pose that the bees beat the air with their wings in order 

 to ventilate the hive, but rather to relieve themselves 

 from some disagreeable sensation which oppresses them. 

 The following experiments prove that one of their ob- 

 jects in this action, as it is with ladies when they use 

 their fans, is to cool themselves when they suffer from 

 too great heat. When Huber once opened the shutter 

 of a glazed hive, so that the solar rays darted upon the 

 combs covered with bees, a humming, the sign of venti- 

 lation, soon was heard amongst them, while those which 

 were in the shade remained tranquil. The bees compo- 

 sing the clusters which often are suspended from the 

 hives in summer, when they are incommoded by the 

 heat of the sun, fan themselves with great energy. But 

 if by any means a shadow is cast over any portion of 

 the group, the ventilation ceases there, while it con- 



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