WINTERING BEES. 339 



As facts observed have a value far above theories, I 

 shall give the substance of numerous observations made 

 by me, at Greenfield, Massachusetts, in the Winter of 

 1856-7, on wintering bees in the open air : 



JAN. OTH, 1857. Examined a number of stocks with 

 Winter-passages in their combs, and with all the holes in 

 their honey-board uncovered. The previous month had 

 been extremely cold, and, for three days before the exami- 

 nation, the thermometer had been one-half of the time 

 below zero, and only once ten above, the wind blowing an 

 almost continuous gale. In none of these hives could I find 

 any frost or dampness, or any bees killed by being caught 

 away from the main body of the colony. In a tempera- 

 ture below zero, they would rush up from their combs on 

 the slightest jar of their hives, rapidly pouring through 

 the Winter-passages, and showing their ability to reach 

 any of their stores.* In a few colonies, to which no up- 

 ward ventilation had been given, the interior walls of the 

 hive, and many of the combs were coated with frost. 



JAN. 14TH. Carefully examined three hives. No. 1, 

 made of boards seven-eighths of an inch thick, had stood 

 with its honey-board removed, the same as would show 

 by removing (/) in Plate HI., Fig. 9. It had a good stock 

 of bees, and, although the mercury in the morning was 

 1(H below zero, there was scarcely any frost in the hive. 

 The bees were dry and lively, and the central combs con- 

 tained eggs and unsealed brood. No. 2 contained an 

 equally strong stock, in a thin hive holding eighteen 

 frames, ten of which (five on each side) had no combs. 

 This hive had no upward ventilation, and was very frosty. 



* On a cold November day, I have found bees, in a hive -without any Winter- 

 passages, separated from the main cluster, and so chilled as not to be able to move ; 

 while, with the thermometer many degrees below zero, I have repeatedly noticed, 

 in other hives, at one of the holes made in the comb, a cluster, varying in size, 

 ready to rush out at the slightest jar of their hive. 



