198 PERFECT SOCIETIES OF INSECTS. 
aperture. The first experiment was the introduction of 
the taper, without putting the ventilator in motion. 
Though the capacity of the vessel was about 3228 cubic 
inches, the flame soon diminished, and went out in about 
eight minutes, and the anemometers continued motion- 
less. The same experiment was next repeated with the 
door shut, with precisely the same result. After the air 
of the vessel had been renewed, the taper was again in- 
troduced, and the ventilator set in motion: immediately, 
as appeared by the oscillations of the anemometers, two 
currents of air were established, and the brilliancy of 
the flame was not diminished during the whole course of 
the experiment, which might have been prolonged for an 
indefinite time. A thermometer placed in the lower part 
of the apparatus rose to 112°; and the temperature was 
evidently still more elevated at the top of the receiver. 
The Creator often has one end in view in the actions 
of animals, (and nothing more conspicuously displays 
the invisible hand that governs the universe,) while the 
agents themselves have another. ‘This probably is the 
case in the present instance, since we can scarcely suppose 
that the bees beat the air with their wings in order to 
ventilate the hive, but rather to relieve themselves from 
some disagreeable sensation which oppresses them. The 
following experiments prove that one of their objects in 
this action, as it is with ladies when they use their fans, 
is to cool themselves when they suffer from too great - 
heat. When Huber once opened the shutter of a glazed 
hive, so that the solar rays darted upon the combs co- 
vered with bees, a humming, the sign of ventilation, soon 
was heard amongst them, while those which were in the 
shade remained tranquil. The bees composing the clusters 
