250 THE BEE NATION. 



only on account of the bees working within the hive, to 

 whom, as already said, a temperature 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 con- 

 siderably 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 their wings in this way for five and twenty 

 minutes. When they are tired they are relieved by others. 

 Accordiog to Jesse the bees in very hot weather, inspite of 

 all their efforts, are unable to sufficiently lower the tempera- 

 ture, and prevent the melting of some of the wax ; they then 

 get into a condition of great excitement, and it is dangerous 

 to approach them. In such a case they also try to mend 

 matters by a number leaving the hive and settling in large 

 masses on its surface, so as to protect it as much as possible 

 from the scorching rays of the sun. 



Although the described plan of ventilation is remarkable 

 enough in itself, it is yet more remarkable in that it is 

 clearly only the result of bee-keeping and is evoked by this 

 misfortune. For there could be no need of such ventilation 

 for bees in a state of nature, whose dwellings in hollow trees 

 and clefts of rocks leave nothing to be desired as to roomi- 

 ness and airiness, while in the narrow artificial hive this 

 need at once comes out strongly. In fact the fanning of 

 the bees almost entirely ceased when Huber brought them into 

 large hives five feet high, in which there was plenty of air. It 

 follows therefore that the fanning and ventilating can have 

 absolutely nothing to do with an inborn tendency or instinct, 

 but have been gradually evoked by necessity, thought, and 

 experience. 



One of the most important duties of the bees employed 



