126 VENTILATION. 



which requires great physical exertion on the part of those 

 to whom it is entrusted ; and if their proceedings are care- 

 fully watched, it will be found that the exhausted ventilators, 

 are, from time to time, relieved by fresh detachments. If 

 the interior of the hive will admit of inspection, in very hot 

 weather, large numbers of these ventilators will be found in 

 regular files, in various parts of the hive, all busily engaged 

 in their laborious employment. If the entrance at any time 

 is contracted, a speedy accession will be made to the num- 

 bers, both inside and outside ; and if it is closed entirely, 

 the heat of the hive will quickly increase, the whole colony 

 will commence a rapid vibration of their wings, and in a few 

 moments will drop lifeless from the combs, for want of air. 

 It has been proved by careful experiments, that pure air 

 is necessary not only for the respiration of the mature bees, 

 but that without it, neither the eggs can be hatched, nor the 

 larvEe developed. A fine netting of air-vessels covers the 

 eggs ; and the cells of the larvse are sealed over with a 

 covering which is full of air holes. In Winter, as has been 

 stated in the Chapter on Protection, bees, if kept in the dark, 

 and neither too warm nor too cold, are almost dormant, and 

 seem to require but a small allowance of air ; but even 

 under such circumstances, they cannot live entirely without 

 air ; and if they are excited by being exposed to atmospheric 

 changes, or by being disturbed, a very loud humming may 

 be heard in the interior of their hives, and they need quite 

 as much air as in warm weather. 



If at any time, by moving their hives, or in any other 

 way,' bees are greatly disturbed, it will be unsafe to confine 

 them, especially in warm weather, unless a very free admis- 

 sion of air is given to them, and even then, the air ought to 

 be admitted above, as well as below the mass of bees, or the 

 ventilators may become clogged with dead bees, and the 



