THE TEMPERATURE OF THE BEE COLONY. 27 



bottom of the wagon on f-incli strips of wood, the spring of which 

 relieved to some extent the jolt of the wagon. In the morning, before 

 the colony was disturbed and just after it was loaded, thermometer 

 readings were taken. On the road readings were also made at short 

 intervals. In this way the result of every successive event in the trip 

 was known. 



The first disturbance, carrying the hive downstairs and loading, was 

 immediately responded to by the bees. The first 15 minutes on the 

 road were but slightly more disturbing. Gradually, however, the 

 temperature increased until 1.30 o'clock in the afternoon and an hour 

 previous to releasing, when practically the maximum was reached, 

 36.0° C. (96.8° F.). It should be mentioned, however, that during 

 the next few hours and even after the bees had their liberty the ther- 

 mometers in the distant parts of the hive, a and e, registered 36.2° C. 

 (97.16° F.). But it is probable that the bees clustered more densely 

 at these points than they did in the center of the hive. This tempera- 

 ture can not be considered particularly abnormal, although it is 

 higher than any temperature registered immediately before or after 

 the transportation. On several occasions during the summer and 

 even in May, practically the same degree was reached; but since in 

 normal circumstances it never went higher than 36° C. (96.8° F.), 

 the temperature observed is probably nearly as high as can be reached 

 by bees without damage. It would not have taken many degrees 

 more than this to have softened the combs and to have caused them 

 to sag and break. The melting point of pure wax is 62° to 64° C. 

 (143° to 145° F.), but the difference between the melting point and 

 the point at which combs become soft enough to sag must be con- 

 siderable, perhaps 20° C. (36° F.). 



It can not be said that the temperature was higher at any one part 

 of the hive than at another, unless possibly there was a slight tend- 

 ency for the brood cluster to be maintained cooler. This would 

 naturally be expected, but under such trying circumstances the phe- 

 nomenon could not be measured satisfactorily. At no time on the 

 trip did the bees hang down from their combs into the lower body, 

 and upon releasing them there was no evidence of condensation. At 

 all times, as would have been expected, there was considerable 

 fanning. Furthermore, the bees were not made cross by their con- 

 finement, as was the case when the rest of the colonies of the apiary 

 were moved, which was done under much more favorable circum- 

 stances except for ventilation. That no brood died in the experi- 

 mental colony is further evidence that 36° C. (96.8° F.) is not 

 abnormal. 



The colony was placed in its new position at 2.30 o'clock and the 

 bees liberated. The effects of their liberty on the temperatures were 

 not apparent, however, as will be seen in Table XI, for more than an 



