GENERAL REMARKS. 249 



When a thaw occurs, everything, both in and out of 

 doors, has a great deal of dampness about it. The 

 combs of a hive are not exempt from this, so that it is 

 advisable to have slight upvirard ventilation in winter. 

 Holes the size of a pin's head allow of the escape of a 

 good deal of bad air, which is generated by the exhala- 

 tions of the bees, as well as by the dampness before 

 referred to. These holes, being small, do not create sulfi- 

 cient draught through the hives to be pernicious ; if closed 

 up by propolis, they are readily reopened with'a pin. With 

 wooden hives in winter, a bell-glass is often found to be 

 useful ; it should be placed over the hole in the crown- 

 board, with a zinc trough to receive the condensed moisture. 



In summer, bees do much towards ventilating their 

 own stock-hives. The observant apiarian will not fail to 

 remark how, on a warm day, several of the little crea- 

 tures will stand at the entrance,, with their abdomens 

 sightly raised and their twinkling wings in rapid 

 motion, producing a current of air inwards; while 

 another set are engaged in like manner, driving the bad 

 air out, so that a supply of pure oxygen is conveyed to 

 the crowded inmates. In this fanning operation their 

 wings vibrate with such rapidity, that their shape is as 

 indistinct as are the spokes of a wheel when revolving in 

 rapid centrifugal motion. 



This important office entails great physical exertion 

 on the part of the bees, and they relieve each other in 

 detachments. 



