WATERING BEES. 241 



season, say the last of June, July and August, when 

 the largest amount of comb is built. 



I have failed to discover bees collecting water in 

 warm days in winter and early in the spring, with 

 that avidity and eagerness described by Mr. Lang- 

 stroth. Whatever his bees may or may not do, I am 

 quite well satisfied that our bees do nothing of the 

 kind. When they fly out on warm days in winter, 

 and early in the spring, they are weak and feeble, 

 and will alight on any object around, such as boards, 

 fences, grass, or on the ground, and many on the 

 snow, if any still lies on the ground. Now will any 

 observing apiarian pretend to say that the object of 

 these bees is to collect water ? If they do make such 

 assertions, all that is necessary to expose its fallacy, 

 is to simply observe the actions of such bees. Any 

 man of common sense and ordinary judgment, with- 

 out any practical knowledge as a bee-man, can detect 

 the error of such statements. They alight apparent- 

 ly because they are unable to fly any farther until 

 they void their faeces and recover strength to resume 

 their flight. Thousands get chilled if the wind is 

 cool, and never rise to return to the hive. 



Bees may frequently be seen collecting something 

 on the ground, and even in moist places, on warm 

 days in spring. I have observed them closely, the 

 result of which is very accurately described by Mr. 

 Quinby, as follows : "During warm days, while wait- 

 in o* for the flowers, the bees are anxious to do some- 

 thing. It is then interesting to watch them and see 

 what will be used as substitutes for pollen and honey 

 21 



