Of Habitations for Bees. 147 
for the health of the whole family; and as 
fome of the rooms muft be colder than others, 
the bees, efpecially in winter, will all draw to 
one place; leaving the other apartments empty, 
and expofed to fuch a degree of cold, as will 
probably make the honey candy and become 
_ufelefs. Befides this method is unnatural, for the 
bees always lodge in one apartment, when left 
to their own liberty, provided it be large e- 
nough to hold them: and as they lay their 
egesin the middle part of their combs and 
hives firft, and afterwards gradually enlarge 
the brood around the centre of the hive, they 
not only get them more eafily defertded from 
all danger, but alfo fooner hatched, by the fu- 
perior degree of heat. 
Colonies have never yet been, and | am per- 
fuaded never will be extended to general ufe, 
although it is nearly two centuries fince they 
were invented by Joun Geppy, Efqg. I will 
not deny, however, that bees may thrive pret. 
ty well upon this plan; which muit be allow- 
ed to have one advantage, as, when properly 
conftructed, thefe hives afford an opportunity 
to the inquifitive philofopher of feeing the bees 
carry on their labours, Colony hives are made 
in various forms, according to the tafte of 
Ee different 
