21 8 THE HONEY-BEE. 



is still under debate. It is alleged, on the one hand, 

 that it must be of advantage to get rid of all pro- 

 ducts of respiration, and that this can only be done 

 effectually, by leaving a passage for the air supposed 

 to be vitiated by the breathing of the bees. On the 

 other hand, it is asserted, and the fact is incontro- 

 vertible, that the insects themselves most sedulously 

 stop every crack and cranny, above all, in the tops 

 of their hives ; and seem to strive, by all means in 

 their power, to prevent the escape of air, which 

 would carry away warmth. The argument is that 

 their natural instinct is certain to be right — that it 

 can only have arisen, or been bestowed, for the 

 benefit of the bees. We must acknowledge there is 

 great force in this reasoning ; and we prefer, there- 

 fore, to secure both the theoretical point relating to 

 sufficient ventilation, and the practical recognition of 

 the preference of the bees for complete coverings, 

 by using the materials we have recommended above, 

 leaving no apertures for the direct escape of air and 

 warmth at the top of the hives. 



The German apiarians lay considerable stress on 

 the necessity of supplying the stocks with water so 

 long as any breeding is going on. Von Berlepsch 

 and G. Eberhardt, in an article in the Bienenzeitung, 

 write as follows : " The Creator has given the bee an 

 instinct to store up honey and pollen, which are not 

 always to be procured, but not water, which is always 

 accessible in her native regions. In northern latitudes, 

 when confined to the hive, often for months together, 

 they can obtain the water they need only from the 

 watery particles contained in the honey, the per- 

 spiration which condenses on the colder parts of 



