NIGHT WORK AND VENTILATION. 115 



of the bees' work, what they do and what they 

 make, but I will only mention one other thing. 

 It is another kind of work, and very hard work, 

 although it is all done while the bees stand still 

 in one place ! 



Go to a hive in summer time, and you will see, at 

 the entrance, several bees (and there are many more 

 inside doing the same thing) standing with their 

 heads toward the hive's entrance, and keeping up 

 the' most rapid movement with their wings ; and so 

 intent are they on their work that they give no heed 

 to anything else, although many bees, going into the 

 hive, may knock against them, and almost go over 

 them. On they go with their work until quite tired 

 out, when others take their place. What is it all for ? 



Well, it is for what is called ventilation, in order to 

 blow, as with a fan, a quantity of fresh pure air, 

 from the outside, into the hive to take the place of 

 that which has become bad and unwholesome, owing 

 to the number of bees and the confined space. 

 As the good air is forced in, the bad air is forced 

 out. It is the same with the hive as with our 

 own rooms. These, as you know, — or ought to know, 

 — must have their windows regularly opened, or, at 

 all events, fresh air let in by some' means, for, if not, 

 they become most unwholesome, particularly if many 

 people are in them. Nothing is of more importance. 

 It is absolutely necessary to health, and you must 

 always remember it. And so it is with the bees, and 

 they know it ; and, as they cannot open windows, they 

 adopt this ingenious plan of blowing in the fresh air 

 by their wings; and so thoroughly well does it answer 



