APIS MELLIFICA. 



larvae at the approach of spring. Yet, although on the setting 

 in of the cold weather the bees remain very quiet, they are not 

 torpid, as is the case with most other insects. They cluster as 

 close together as the comb will permit, and have the faculty of 

 generating a degree of heat superior to that of the external 

 atmosphere. 



Mr. Hunter found, during an evening in July, when the 

 temperature of the atmosphere was 54, that of the interior 

 of a hive full of bees was 82 ; and in December, the external 

 atmosphere being 35, the bees preserved a temperature of 

 73, and what is at this season extremely rare in the lower 

 animals, they maintain their digestive powers, and subsist on 

 the produce of the summer and autumn. Accordingly, they 

 are ready to take advantage of any fine and mild day, and 

 may be seen then flying abroad, and appearing to enjoy it. 

 They void their excrements at this time, for they are insects 

 of singular cleanliness and propriety, and when purposely 

 confined in the hive with abundance of food, they have been 

 known to fall a sacrifice to this instinctive repugnance to 

 defile the hive. 



The continuance of the digestive actions during the winter 

 influences the condition of the oviducts in the queen, and the 

 impregnated ova begin early to expand, and are ready for 

 exclusion towards the end of March. This makes the bee 

 the earliest breeder among insects. The laborers now resume 

 their accustomed duties, and as the season is too early for 

 collecting the provision of the maggot abroad, the store of 

 bee-bread laid up in the preceding year comes into use, for 

 the sustenance of the larvae, which are about to form the first 

 swarm. As soon, however, as the flowers begin to blow, the 

 bees fly forth to gather fresh pollen, propolis, and honey, and 

 the labors of the year recommence. 



It appears to be the presence of the larvae which are des- 

 tined to become perfect females, which stimulates the old 

 queen to leave the hive. After repeated attempts to penetrate 

 their cells, and destroy her royal progeny, she becomes infu- 

 riated, communicates her agitation to a portion of her subjects, 

 which together with her rush out of the hive, and seek a 

 new domicile. It is stated, that, in every instance, the old 

 queen leads the first swarm; the laborers that remain pay 

 particular attention to the royal larvae that remain, and these, 

 as they are successively excluded, lead away fresh swarms, if 



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