they are by no means in so complete a state of torpidity as to eat none at all. On a mild day in winter, when the sun shines and the wind is low, we often observe them eagerly taking advantage of this favourable temperature, and coming abroad in hundreds to enjoy themselves in the open air. If we open a leaf-hive in the very depth of the cold season, we shall find them closely clustered together, but in near contact with the provision-cells; and the whole mass moving without separating, and by this means doubtless contributing to preserve the general warmth.
It has been made a question among Bee-writers, whether a mild or a severe winter be most favourable to the health and well-being of these insects? Bonner and others are advocates for mild winters; while White, Bevan, &c., maintain that severe winters are most salutary. We are of opinion that the question admits not of a general determination, but that special regard must be had to the state of the hives—a circumstance which has been too little taken into account in the discussion. In a well-found hive, it is of very little importance to the inhabitants of what nature the winter may be. If it is severe, they have enough of internal heat to preserve them from the severity of the external atmosphere. Huber found that when the thermometer in the open air stood several degrees below the freezing point, it rose, when plunged into a populous hive, to 86 and 88 degrees. Swammerdam observes that the heat of a hive is such, even in the middle of winter, that the honey never
