THE ENEMIES OF OUR HONEY-BEE. i6j 



mersion for removing a portion of the combs; the bees 

 were afterwards spread on a cloth in the sun and became 

 reanimated. Dr. Derham says that he has known bees 

 revive after remaining twenty-four hours under an ex- 

 hausted air pump. After long immersion the proboscis 

 of the bee is generally unfolded and stretched to its full 

 length. The first symptom of returning animation is a 

 motion at its extremity, succeeded by a similar motion at 

 the extremities of the legs. Having so far progressed 

 towards recovery, the tongue is soon folded up again, and 

 the bee prepared to resume its customary occupations. 



Our friends may take heart, if they should unfortu- 

 nately find their skeps after a heavy thunderstorm totally 

 immersed in water, and the bees apparently drowned and 

 past recovery. I had a hive, in which a large hole was 

 cut out of the straw at the top, some four inches in 

 diameter, for the purpose of feeding, &c. Partly through 

 sheer forgetfulness I left it exposed ; a very heavy storm 

 came on, which continued with very slight intermission 

 for twenty-four hours. I thought surely they must all have 

 perished, for hundreds were washed out of the hive through 

 the mouth, on the ground beneath the stands. What was 

 my joy, when I discovered them the following day, which 

 fortunately turned out fine and warm, buzzing their wings, 

 and humming in real gladness of heart! Those on the 

 floor also recovered under the heat of the sun, and I da 

 not think I lost a single bee. Oil, such as olive or sweet 

 oil, is destructive to bees ; if brushed over their sides, just 

 beneath the wings, it causes death like poison in a few 

 minutes, because it stops the breathing, which is performed 

 by pores along the side of the abdomen. 



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