MR. NEWPORT ON THE TEMPERATURE OF INSECTS. 
297 
remains many hours on the cells. The very high temperature unto which the insects 
are able to raise their own bodies, and the cells upon which they are incubating at 
this period, will be best shown by detailing the continued observations on the nest. 
At 8 a.m., July 13, when the temperature of the atmosphere was 7l°'8, and the 
temperature of the interior of the box around the nest 72°‘5, I inserted the bulb of a 
fine thermometer very carefully between the abdomen of several bees and the cells 
upon which they were incubating, and which contained nymphs, and found the body 
of a single nursing bee was 84°* 1 , while the exterior of some cells that contained 
nymphs, but which were not covered, was 76'5. At 8^ the temperature of the out- 
side of the waxen cover, or top of the nest, was 77°'7, and that of the atmosphere 72°*5, 
while the interior of the nest, where the bulb of the thermometer was introduced among 
four bees which were nursing upon the cells, was 89 0, 2. At 8f, atmosphere as before, 
when the thermometer was introduced among seven nursing bees at the same spot, 
three of which were large females, and the others males, which also assist in the 
process of incubating, the mercury of the thermometer rose to 90 o, 2 Fa hr. At 9 a.m., 
atmosphere still 7 2 0, 5, the temperature of the same bees still incubating was 92 0, 3, 
and of others incubating in another part of the same nest 91 0, 5 ; at 9^, atmosphere 
72°7, that of the bees still nursing was 91°. At 12 a.m. the observations were resumed : 
in the interval between the last observation and the present time there had been a 
gentle shower with light wind, and the atmosphere had sunk to 7Q 0, 2 ; the tempera- 
ture of the Nurse Bees on the cell was now 92 0, 5. The thermometer was raised to this 
height within about ten minutes, and was maintained at that standard as long as the 
bulb of the instrument was allowed to remain in contact with the bodies of the insects, 
while the temperature of some of the adjoining cells beneath the same cover, but 
which were not covered by the bees, was maintained at only 80 o, 2. Within a quarter 
of an hour after these observations were made three large female bees were hatched 
from the cells upon which the seven bees had been incubating ; the temperature of 
the atmosphere was then 72 0- 2, while that of the Nurse Bees, which had now desisted 
from incubating, and consequently were respiring less rapidly, had sunk to 85°. It 
was thus evident that the greatest amount of heat is generated by the Nurse Bees just 
before the young bees are liberated from the combs, at which period they require the 
greatest amount of invigorating heat. It is at this period also, as before noticed, that 
the young bee is most susceptible of diminished temperature; it is then exceedingly 
sleek, soft, and covered with moisture ; perspires profusely, and is highly sensitive of 
the slightest current of air. It crowds eagerly among the combs and among the other 
bees, and everywhere where there is the greatest warmth. In the course of a few 
hours it becomes a little stronger, and is less sensitive, and better able to bear a di- 
minished temperature. It then moves about with less circumspection, and its wings, 
which at first are soft and weak, and bent upon its trunk, become plain and straight. 
When the young bee first leaves its cell it is entirely of a whitish or pale grey colour, 
but within half an hour the black markings on the thorax become very distinct, 
