334 
WINTERING BEES. 
themselves close enough to secure sufficient animal 
heat to exhale or drive off the water in their food, it 
was therefore retained in theii* bodies till they were 
distended beyond endurance — they were unable to 
wait for a warm day — necessity compelled them to 
issue daily during the coldest weather, discharging 
their faeces the moment of passing the entrance, and 
part of them before. They were immediately chilled, 
and could not return ; the quantity left about this 
entrance shows that a great many must have come 
out. That they came out in cold weather is proved 
by its being left on the hive, because in warm weather 
they leave the hive for this purpose.” 
“ This is a new idea ; at present it seems to be cor- 
rect; I will think it over. But how did you know 
that it was not a new swarm ; that it was well filled ?” 
“When looking under it just now, I saw that combs 
of a dark color had been attached to the sides near the 
bottom, below where those are at present ; this indi- 
cates that it had been full, and the dark color that it 
was not new. Also, a swarm early and large enough 
to fill such a hive the first season, would not be very 
likely to be affected by the cold in this way.” 
“Why not? I think this hive was crowded with 
bees as much as any of my new swarms.” 
“ I have no doubt they appeared so ; but we are 
very liable to be deceived in such cases, by the dead 
brood in the combs. A moderate-sized family in such 
a hive will make more show than some larger ones 
that have empty cells to creep into, and can pack 
closer.” 
