PERFECT SOCIETIES OF INSECTS. 



161 



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 in- 

 visible 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 sen- 

 sation 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 covered 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 which often are suspended from the hives in 

 summer, when they are incommoded by the heat of the sun, 

 fan themselves with great energy. But if by any means a 

 shadow is cast over any portion of the group, the ventilation 

 ceases there, while it continues in the part which feels the 

 heat of the sun. The same cause produces a similar effect 

 upon humble-bees, wasps, and hornets. 



Amongst the bees, however, it is remarkable that ven- 

 tilation goes on even in the depth of winter, when it cannot 

 be occasioned by excess of heat. This, therefore, can only be 

 regarded as a secondary cause of the phenomenon. From 

 other experiments, which, having already detained you too 

 long, I shall not here detail, it appears that penetrating and 

 disagreeable odours produce the same effect. 1 Perhaps, 

 though Huber does not say this, the odour produced by the 

 congregated myriads of the hive may be amongst the prin- 

 cipal motives that impel its inhabitants to this necessary action. 



Whatever be the proximate cause, it is, I trust, now evident 

 to you that the Author of nature, having assigned to these 



VOL. II. 



1 Huber, ii. 359. 

 M 



