Curiosities & wonders > New observations on the natural history of bees

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RESPIRATION OF BEES.
more are found to be engaged in ventilating
the interior. The ordinary place of ventila¬
tion is on the board; those outside of the
entrance have their heads turned in towards
it; those within have them turned in the
opposite direction.
We may affirm, that they arrange them-|
selves regularly to ventilate more at ease. ,
Thus they form files, terminating at the en- 1
trance of the hive, and sometimes disposed !
like so many diverging rays. But this or¬
der is not uniform. Probably it is owing to
the necessity for the ventilating bees giving
way to those going and coming, whose rapid
course compels them to range themselves in
a file, to avoid being hurt or thrown over
every instant.
Sometimes above twenty bees ventilate at
the^ bottom of a hive; at other times their
number is more circumscribed, and their em¬
ployment of various duration. We have
seen them engaged in* it during twenty-five
minutes, only taking breath, as it were, by
the shortest interruption of the vibration.
On ceasing, they are succeeded by others;
so that there never is any intermission of
the buzzing in a populous hive.