Mr. Hunter's Observations on Bees. 
l^i 
going out or coming in, but hurry either in, or out: however 
they are commonly attacked by one, two, or three at a time : 
they seem to make no resistance, only getting away as fast as 
possible. The labourers do not sting them, only pinch them, 
and pull them about as if to wear them out ; but I suspect it 
may be called as much a natural, as a violent death. 
The whole of the males are now destroyed, and indeed it 
would have been useless to have saved any to impregnate the 
queen in the spring. That there may be many more than may 
be wanted, I can easily believe, for this we see throughout 
nature; but she always times her operations well, although 
there may be supernumeraries. 
When the young are wholly come forth, and either the cells 
entirely filled, or no more honey to be collected, then is the 
time, or season, for remaining in their hives for the winter. 
Although I have now completed a hive, -and no operations 
are going on in the winter months, yet the history of this hive 
is imperfect till it sends forth a new swarm. 
As the common bee is very susceptible of cold, we find as 
soon as the cold weather sets in, they become very quiet, or 
still, and remain so throughout the winter, living on the pro- 
duce of the summer and autumn ; and indeed a cold day in the 
summer is sufficient to keep them at home, more so than a 
shower in a warm day : and if the hive is thin, and much ex- 
posed, they will hardly move in it, but get as close together as 
the comb will let them, into a cluster. In this manner they 
appear to live through the winter: however, in a fine day, they 
become very lively and active, going abroad, and appearing to 
enjoy it, at which time they get rid of their excrement ; for I 
fancy they seldom throw out their excrement when in the 
MDCCXCII. Y 
