WINTEETNG BKKS. 339 



As facts observed have a value far above theories, I 

 shall give the substance of numerous observations made 

 by me, at Greenfield, Massachusetts, in the Winter of 

 1856-7, on wintering bees in the open air : 



Jan. 9th, 1857. — Examined a number of stocks with 

 Winter-passages in their combs, and with all the holes in 

 their honey-board uncovered. The previous month ' had 

 been extremely cold, and, for three days before the exami- 

 nation, the thermometer had been one-half of the time 

 below zero, and only once ten above, the wind blowing an 

 almost continuous gale. In none of these hives could I find 

 any frost or dampness, or any bees killed by being caught 

 away from the main body of the colony. In a tempera- 

 ture below zero, they would rush up from their combs on 

 the slightest jar of their hives, rapidly pouring through 

 the Winter-passages, and showing their ability to reach 

 any of their stores.* Li a few colonies, to which no up- 

 ward ventilation had been given, the interior walls of the 

 hive, and many of the combs were coated with frost. 



Jan. 14th. — Carefully examined three hives. No. 1, 

 made of boards seven-eighths of an inch thick, had stood 

 with its honey-board removed, the same as would show 

 by removing {/) in Plate HI., Fig. 9. It had a good stock 

 of bees, and, although the mercury in the morning was 

 10|° below zero, there was scarcely any fi-ost in the hive. 

 The bees were dry and lively, and the central combs, con- 

 tained eggs and unsealed brood. ISTo. 2 contained an 

 equally strong stock, in a thin hive holding eighteen 

 frames, ten of which (five on each side) had no combs. 

 This hive hafl no nf)ward ventilation, and was very frosty. 



* On a cold November day, I have found bees, in a hive without any Winter- 

 passages, separated from the main cluster, and so chilled as not to be 4ble to move ; 

 V. hile, with the thermometer many degrees below zero, I have repeatedly noticed, 

 in other hives, at one of the holes made in the comb, a cluster, varying in size, 

 ready to rush out at the slightest jar of their hive. 



