THE HONEY-BEE. 
233 
tively warm atmosphere of the centre of the hive 
where they are congregated in dense clusters, and to 
expose themselves to the colder temperature below 
which chills, and ultimately destroys them. At the 
same time, we must not he understood as recom- 
mending the shutting them up altogether, so that they 
cannot take the advantage of an occasional interval 
of sunshine. Leave the narrow apertures free, both 
in order to admit the fresh air, and to afford the bees 
an opportunity of coming abroad when they can do 
so in safety. Absolute confinement is extremely pre- 
judicial to them. The practice which prevails in 
some places of removing the hives into the dwelling- 
house, by way of preserving them from the cold, is 
by no means to be recommended ; and, in fact, is 
often followed by fatal effects. The increased tem- 
perature of the place to which they have been re- 
moved, keeps them in such a state of animation and 
excitement, that they continue to cat during the whole 
period of their confinement, and not being at liberty to 
go abroad and evacuate, their bodies become swollen 
and diseased by the retention of their fieces, — for 
they are most unwilling to soil the interior of their 
dwelling, — and great numbers of them are thus 
cut off ; and when in spring the hive is brought into 
the open air, the few inhabitants that remain are too 
feeble to bear the sudden change of temperature, and 
gradually dwindle away, or are plundered and de- 
stroyed by the more vigorous and healthy. 
While snow is on the ground, a gleam of sunshine 
will cast such a glare of light into the interior of the 
