264 SAGACITY OF BEES. 



INSTANCES OF SAGACITT. 



"When the weather is warm, and the heat inside is 

 somewhat oppressive, a number of bees may be seen sta- 

 tioned around the entrance, 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 the air is thus created, thereby ventilating the 

 hive more effectually." 



All populous stocks do this in hot weather. 



Again. " A snail had entered the hive, and fixed itself 

 against the glass side. Being unable to penetrate it with 

 their stings, the cunning economists fixed it immovably by 

 merely cementing the edge of the orifice of the shell to 

 the glass with resin (propolis), and thus it became a 

 prisoner for life." 



Now, the same instinct that prompts the collection of 

 propolis in August to fill every crack, flaw, and inequality 

 about the hive, would use it to cement the edges of the 

 snail-shell to the glass, and a small stone, block of wood, 

 or any substance that they are unable to remove, is fastened 

 with it in the same manner. The lower edges of the ^ive, 

 when in close proximity to the bottom, are joined to it 

 with this substance. The stoppers of the holes in the top 

 are thus fixed in their places ; and the published instance 

 of the unaccountable " sagacity," that once fastened close 

 a little door on the top of a hive, may be nothing more 

 than a result of this instinctive habit. 



Other instances of " wonderful sagacity " will, I think, 

 also be found simply to be individual examples of their 

 common customs. 



Whenever the combs in a hive have been broken, or 

 when they have been added, as mentioned in Fall Manage- 

 ment, the first act of the bees, is, to fasten them in their 

 present position. When the edges are near the side of the 

 hive, or two combs are in contact, a portion of wax is de- 



