VOL. LXXXII.] VHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 173 



sufficient to preserve them through the winter. This is similar to the 2d or 3d 

 swarm of the old hives. 



Of the seasons, when the different operations of bees take place. — I have al- 

 ready observed, that the new colony immediately sets about the increase of their 

 numbers, and every thing relating to it. They had their apartments to build, 

 both for the purpose of breeding, and as a storehouse for provisions for the 

 winter. When the season for laying eggs is over, then is the season for col- 

 lecting honey; therefore, when the last chrysalis for the season comes forth, its 

 cell is immediately filled with honey, and as soon as a cell is full, it is covered 

 over with pure wax, and is to be considered as a store for the winter. This 

 covering answers two very essential purposes: one is to keep it from spilling, or 

 daubing the bees: the other to prevent its evaporation, by which means it is 

 kept fluid in such a warmth. They are also employed in laying up a store of 

 bee-bread for the young maggots in the spring, for they begin to bring forth 

 much earlier than probably any other insect, because they retain a summer heat, 

 and store up food for the young. 



In the month of August we may suppose the queen, or queens, are impreg- 

 nated by the males; and as the males do not provide for themselves, they become 

 burdensome to the workers, and are therefore teized to death much sooner than 

 they otherwise would die; and when the bees set about this business, of providing 

 their winter store, every operation is over, except the collecting of honey and 

 ee-bread. At this time it would seem as if the males were conscious of their 

 danger, for they do not rest on the mouth of the hive in either going out or 

 coming in, but hurry either in or out: however they are commonly attacked by 

 1, 2, or 3 at a time: they seem to make no resistance, only getting away as 

 fast as possible. The labourers do not sting them, only pinch them, and pull 

 them about as if to wear them out ; but I suspect it may be called as much a 

 natural, as a violent death. 



The whole of the males are now destroyed, and indeed it would have been 

 useless to have saved any to impregnate the queen in the spring. That there 

 may be many more than may be wanted, I can easily believe, for this we see 

 throughout Nature; but she always times her operations well, though there may 

 be supernumeraries. When the young are wholly come forth, and either the 

 cells entirely filled, or no more honey to be collected, then is the time, or season, 

 for remaining in their hives for the winter. Though I have now completed a 

 hive, and no operations are going on in the winter months, yet the history of 

 this hive is imperfect till it sends forth a new swarm. 



As the common bee is very susceptible of cold, we find, as soon as the cold 

 weather sets in, they become very quiet, or still, and remain so throughout the 

 winter, living on the produce of the summer and autumn ; and indeed a cold day 



