180 THE BEE-HIVES. 



such rapid motion, that they are almost as indistinct as the 

 spokes of a wheel, in swift rotation on its axis. A brisk 

 current of air may be felt proceeding from the hive; and if 

 a small piece of down be suspended at its entrance, by a 

 thread, it will be drawn out from one part, and drawn in at 

 another. Why are these bees so deeply absorbed in their 

 fanning occupation, that they pay no attention to the busy 

 numbers constantly crowding in and out of the hive? and 

 what is the meaning of this double current of air? To Huber, 

 we owe the satisfactory explanation of these curious phe- 

 nomena. The bees, thus singularly plying their rapid wings, 

 are ventilating the hive; and this double current is caused by 

 pure air rushing in, to supply the place of the foul air which 

 is forced out. By a series of beautiful experiments, Huber 

 ascertained that the air of a crowded hive is almost as pure 

 as the surrounding atmosphere. Now, as the entrance to 

 such a hive is often very small, the air within cannot be 

 renewed, without resort to artificial means. If a lamp is 

 put into a close vessel, with only one small orifice, it will 

 soon exhaust the oxygen, and cease to burn. If another 

 small orifice is made, the same result will follow; but if a 

 current of air is by some device drawn out from one open- 

 ing, an equal current will force its way into the other, and 

 the lamp will burn until the oil is exhausted. 



364. It is on this principle of maintaining a double cur- 

 rent by artificial means, that bees ventilate their crowded 

 habitations. A file of ventilating bees stands inside and 

 outside of the hive, each with head turned to its entrance, 

 and while, by the rapid fanning of their "many twinkling" 

 wings, a brisk current of air is blown out of the hive, an 

 equal current is drawn in. As this important office demands 

 unusual physical exertion, the exhausted laborers are, from 

 time to time, relieved by fresh detachments. If the interior 

 of the hive permits inspection, many ventilators will be 

 found scattered through it, in very hot weather, all busily 

 engaged in their laborious employment. If its entrance is 



