NATURAL HISTORY. = 
be expofed to the north wind. Likewife they will be beft to be fo pla- 
Sed, that the fun may fhine upon them early in the morning, as alfo late 
M the evening. However it mutt be obferved, that though the fun is 
Very advantageous to Bees, yet there are times, when his beams are 
too f{eorching, which will render the hives too hot, fo as to difturb the 
ees, and to melt their wax. Upon this account, it. will be be{t to 
Place them under a cover or roof, to preferve them from the extreme 
eat of the fun, and from the rain. But where this cannot eafily be 
done, they may be thatched or covered with ftraw, which will have 
© fame. effect. 
Glafs hives are a new invention, and were defigned to enable per- 
fons to fee what was doing in the infide. However they are need- 
efs in the winter feafon, becaufe when there is a froft, the Bees are fo 
enumbed, that any one may examine their hives, by laying them on 
ne fide, or even turning them upfide down. ‘Then the Becs may be 
feen heaped together, and lying as clofe to each other as poflible. 
they generally keep in the lower part of the cakes of wax, or at molt 
about the middle of the hive. But as foon as it thaws, and efpecially 
if the fun fhines, fo as to render the hive warm, they then are rouzed 
Sut of their lethargy. Hence it appears, that heat is abfolutely necei- 
ary for their prefervation ; and this they endeavour to encreafe, by their 
Motion, and the agitation of their wings. Likewife the more nume- 
Tous the bees are in a hive, the warmer they are. However when their 
tivity is returned, they are then under a neceflity of taking nourifh- 
Ment, and confequently they have recourfe to their provifions ; for then 
ey begin to feed upon the lower combs. . Hence the milder the win- 
ter is, the more honey they confume; and they are fometimes in dan- 
Ser of a famine, and to die of hunger, before the flowry feafon returns. 
‘hus a very fevere winter, and one that is too mild, are equally dan- 
Serous. 
_ It is commonly faid, that the afhes of a fig tree, is capable of bring- 
ing dead Bees to life; but this is a miftake, for thofe Bees which are 
‘ought to be dead, becaufe they are motionlefs, are not really fo; 
t Ough it mult be owned, that in extreme cold weather, any perfon 
May be deceived. At this time a handful may be taken, without the 
anger of being ftung; but if they are put upon warm afhes, or near 
2 gentle fire, they will immediately fhow that they are alive. 
Befides cold, hunger, and old age, Bees are faid to be fubject to 
Uxes, which fometimes bring on a mortality among them; and they 
@re alfo fubje& to other difeafes; and thofe Bees that are brought 
Mto any clofe place, fuch as a green-houfe, during the winter, are 
More fubjec& to difeafes, than others, that are leit in the gardens, 
With an aperture, by which frefh air may enter, and through which 
they are at liberty to fly out when they pleafe, and when the wea- 
ther is fne. However the middle prattice is the beft, which is to 
ave thofe hives in the open air, that are well ftecked with Bees, and 
to place thofe in the green houfe, which are thin of Bees. It is the 
Pinion of Reaumur, that it will be the beit to put thefe laft into tubs, 
©Pen at the top, and to fill up the empty fpaces, between the fides of 
€ tub and the hive, with fine hay, fhort ftraw, fand, or dried earth ; 
Ut they mult be defended from the rain, by a covering, placed at a 
Proper diftance over it, ‘Lhis he thinks is a good expedient to preferve 
O2 them. 
