WINTERING. 341 



by active exercise; and, as those on the outside of the cluster 

 become chilled, they are replaced by others. Besides, the fan- 

 ning of wings, which causes this roar, sends the warm air 

 from the top of the cluster to the bottom of the hive— thus 

 warming the bees placed at the lowest part of the cluster ; and 

 these, if not too chilled, take advantage of a warmer day, 

 to climb above the mass, and get honey in their turn. 



When the weather is very cold, their humming can often 

 be heard outside of the hive; and, if the hive be jarred, at 

 any time, there comes a responsive murmur, which is longer 

 or shorter in duration, and lower or higher in tone, according 

 to the strength of the colony. 



633. As all muscular exertion requires food to supply 

 the waste of the system, the more quiet bees can be kept, 

 the less they will eat. It is, therefore, highly important to 

 preserve them as far as possible, in Winter, from every de- 

 gree, either of heat or cold, which will arouse them to great 

 activity. 



When all the food which is in their reach is consumed, they 

 will stai-ve, if the temperature is too cold to allow them to 

 move their cluster to the parts of the combs which contain 

 honey; hence, if the central combs of the hive are not well 

 stored with honey, they should be exchanged for such as are, 

 so that, when the cold compels the bees to recede from the 

 outer combs, they may cluster among their stores. In districts 

 where bees gather but little honey in the Fall, such precau- 

 tions, in cold climates, will be specially needed, as, often, after 

 breeding is over, their central combs will be almost empty. 

 For this reason Canadian apiarists often feed their colonies 

 until the central combs are entirely filled with honey at the 

 opening of Winter. 



633. It is impossible to say how much honey will be 

 needed to carry a colony safely through the Winter. Much 

 will depend on the way in which they are wintered, whether 

 in the open air or in special depositories, where they are 

 protected against the undue excitement caused by sudden 



