182 THE BEE-HIVES. 



swarms which were brought to our apiary, so closely con- 

 fined, that they had died of suffocation. In each instance, 

 their bodies were distended with a yellow and noisome sub- 

 stance, as though they had perished from diarrhoea. A few 

 were still alive, and although the colony had been shut up 

 only a few hours, the bodies of both the living and the dead 

 were filled with this same disgusting fluid, instead of the 

 honey they had when they swarmed. 



In a medical point of view, these facts are highly inter- 

 esting; showing as they do, under what circumstances, and 

 how speedily, diseases may be produced resembling dysen- 

 tery or cholera. 



369. In very hot weather, if thin hives are exposed to 

 the sun's direct rays, the bees are excessively annoyed by 

 the intense heat, and have recourse to the most powerful 

 ventilation, not merely to keep the air of the hive pure, but 

 to lower its temperature. 



Bees, in such weather, often leave, almost in a body, the 

 interior of the hive, and cluster on the outside, not merely 

 to escape the close heat within, but to guard their combs 

 against the danger of being melted. 



370. Few novices have an adequate idea of the danger 

 to heavily laden combs from heat, especially if the cluster 

 of bees, outside, happens to obstruct the entrance, by hang- 

 ing in front of it. In the Summer of 1877, we have seen 

 whole rows of hives, which were exposed to the sun's rays, 

 in a large apiary, "melt down" almost simultaneously, — 

 causing a loss of hundreds of dollars, — for lack of sufficient 

 ventilation, owing to the clustering of the bees in front of 

 the entrance. 



371. After one comb breaks down, the leaking honey 

 spreads over the bottom-board, runs out of the entrance, 

 daubs the bees, and prevents further ventilation; then the 

 rest of the combs fall pell-mell on one another, crushing the 

 brood, the queen, and the remaining bees. It is utter de- 

 struction. 



