BEES AND WASPS — GENEEAL INTELLIGENCE. 191 



resin, fastening down the animal to the wall of the hive, 

 so that it died of starvation or want of air. If the en- 

 casing of an animal (such as a mouse) with propolis is 

 not sufficient to prevent its putrefaction, the bees gnaw 

 away all the putrescible parts of the carcass and carry 

 them out of the hive, leaving only the skeleton behind. 

 The dead bodies of their companions are also carried out 

 of the hive and deposited at a distance. There is no 

 question about this fact (which it will be remembered is 

 analogous to that already mentioned in the case of ants) ; 

 according to Biichner, however, bees not only remove their 

 dead, but also, occasionally at least, bury them. But as 

 he gives very inadequate evidence in support of this asser- 

 tion, we may safely set it aside as insufficiently proven. 



Biichner, however, gives an admirable summary, and 

 makes some judicious remarks on the well-known and 

 highly remarkable habit which bees practise for the 

 obvious purpose of ventilating their hives. As this 

 account gives all the facts in a brief compass, I cannot do 

 better than quote it : — 



Yery interesting, and closely connected with this character- 

 istic of cleanliness, is the conduct of the so-called ventilating- 

 bees, which have to take care that in summer or hot weather the 

 air necessary for respiration of the bees in the interior of the 

 hire is renewed, and the too high temperature cooled down. 

 The latter precaution is necessary, not only on account of the 

 bees working within the hive, to whom, as already said, a tem- 

 perature risen beyond a certain point would be intolerable, but 

 also to guard against the melting or softening of the wax. The 

 bees charged with the care of the ventilation divide themselves 

 into rows and stages in regular order through all parts of the 

 hive, and by swift fanning of their wings send little currents of 

 air in such fashion that a powerful stream or change of air 

 passes through all parts of the hive. Other bees stand at the 

 mouth of the hive, which fan in the same way and considerably 

 accelerate the wind from within. The current of air thus caused 

 is so strong that little bits of paper hung in front of the mouth 

 are rapidly moved, and that, according to F. Huber, a lighted 

 match is extinguished. The wind can be distinctly felt if the 

 hand be held in front. 



The motion of the wings of the ventilating bees is so rapid 

 that it is scarcely perceptible, and Huber saw some bees working 



