334 WINTEEING BEES. 



themselves close enough to secure sufficient animal 

 heat to exhale or drive off the water in their food, it 

 was therefore retained in their bodies till they were 

 distended beyond endurance — thBy were unable to 

 wait for a warm day — necessity compelled them to 

 issue daily during the coldest weather, discharging 

 their faeces the moment of passing the entrance, and 

 part of them before. They were immediately chilled, 

 and could not return ; the quantity left about this 

 entrance shows that a great many must have "come 

 out. That they came out in cold weather is proved 

 by its being left on the hive, because in warm weather 

 they leave the hive for this purpose." 



" This is a new idea ; at present it seems to be cor- 

 rect ; I will think it over. But how did you know 

 that it was not a new swarm ; that it was well filled ?" 



" When looking under it just now, I saw that combs 

 of a dark color had been attached to the sides near the 

 bottom, below where those are at present; this indi- 

 cates that it had been full, and the dark color that it 

 was not new. Also, a swarm early and large enough 

 to fill such a hive the first season, would not be very 

 likely to be affected by the cold in this way." 



" Why not ? I think this hive was crowded with 

 bees as much as any of my new swarms." 



" I have no doubt they appeared so ; but we are 

 very liable to be deceived in such cases, by the dead 

 brood in the combs. A moderate-sized family in such 

 a hive will make more show than some larger ones 

 that have empty cells to creep into, and can pack 

 closer." 



