SAGACITY OF BEES. 353 



CHAPTEE XXIIi. 



SAGACITY OF BEES. 



ARE NOT BBBS DIRECTED ALONE Br INSTINCT? 



On this subject I have but little to say, as I have 

 failed to discover anything uncommonly remarkable, 

 separate and distinct in one swarm, that another 

 would not exhibit. I have found one swarm guided 

 alone by instinct, doing just what another would un- 

 der the same circumstances. 



Writers, not contented with the astonishing results' 

 of instinct, with their love of the marvellous, must add 

 a good share of reason to their other faculties, — " an 

 adaptation of means to ends, that reason alone oould 

 produce." It is very true, without close inspection, 

 and comparing the results of different swarms in sim- 

 ilar cases, one might arrive at such conclusion. It is. 

 difficult, as all will admit, "to tell where instinct ends, 

 and reason begins." Instances of sagacity, like the 

 following, have been mentioned. " When the weather 

 is warm, and the heat inside is somewhat oppressive, a 

 number of bees may be seen stationed around the en- 

 trance, vibrating their wings. Those inside will turn 

 their heads towards the passage, while those outside 

 will turn theirs the other way. A constant agitation 

 of air is thus created, thereby ventilating the hive more 

 effectually." All full stocks do this in hot weather. 



j WHAT THEY PO WITH PROPOLIS. 



"A snail had entered the hive and fixed itself 

 against the glass side. The bees, unable to penetrate 



