" Though the clamp had been exposed to the direct rays of the nonday gun; and the thermometer had daily ranged at from 76\({}^{\circ}\) to 78\({}^{\circ}\) for some time previous, yet\({}_{2}\) on removing the outer mantle; I found the earth-covering below it still frozen; so that it had to be removed with a hose--a satisfactory proof that the interior of the clamp could not have been affected by external variations of temperature. I now became exceedingly anxious to see whether rain or anow-water had penetrated to the straw covering, as I approached might be the case, having had no previous experience in such matters. To my surprise and gratification, however, I found it thoroughly dry--showing conclusively that the earth-covering had sufficed effectually to shed off the rain and snow-water, and that the ample and efficient internal ventilation had prevented the formation of moisture and mould. On removing the straw, I peresired no symptom of dampness on the boards; and when, finally, these latter were taken away; the hives presented themselves as clean and dry as when put there in the Fall. \({}^{44}\) Anxious now to ascertain the condition of their inmates, I tapped against the hives, but, to my dismay, heard no response. I seized a stick, and, tapping harder and harder, finally proceeded to blows; still all remained mute within. An old man from the neighboring village, who enhanced to be present, seemed vastly gratified at my chagrin and consternation, as he and his neighbors had kept bees for many years, but had no fancy for such novel contrivanes and experiments as mine. I must admit that I was, for the moment, thoroughly discoerted on finding, as I then supposed, all my antieigations and confident calculations thus suddenly and effeetually nullified. But, resolved to know the worst, I removed the hives to the Apairy, where the sun shone bright and warm; and searevely were the entrances opened, when the bees began to pour forth in masses, humming joyously, to my irrepressible delight, and to the utter discomfiture of the old villager. With special gratification did I notice that the bees came forth from their long imprisonment with bodies as attenuate and slender as they had in the preceding Autumn, whilst those which had been wintered in the dark chamber soiled their hives and all surrounding objects, by profase discharges of faecal matter. This led me to conjecture that these colonies had consumed comparatively little honey, which was found to be the fact on opening the hives and examining the condition of their stores. Those colonies which had only eight or ten pounds of honey in the Fall, had still a surplus remaining, and were healthy and strong; while the poor little after-swarm had not only well preserved its numbers, but had the greater portion of its small supply of honey still in reserve. Few dead bees were found, and those probably died of old age. The loss of bees was very much greater in the colonies which had been wintered in the house, and more than double the quantity of honey had been consumed by each of them; so that a very important saving can manifestly be effected by means of clamps, apart from the other important advantages which this mode of wintering bees possesses. The combs in all the colonies were clean and free from mould, and I could perceive no difference in this particular between the hives which had their entrances and ventilating passage closed, and those in which the latter had been left open, the pieces of old comb, even, having remained dry and free from mould. Satisfactory proof was thus furnished that, where the temperature is moderate and uniform throughout, condensation of moisture will not result from close confinement. Still, from various considerations, I would recommend ventilation in every hive; and previous experience has taught me that been will remain more tranquil during the Winter in hives duly ventilated, than in such as are closed. A number of the colonies deposited in my dark room were purposely confined without ventilation. Three of these became very restless, consumed a disproportionate amount of their stores, and very many of the bees perished. Precisely these three colonies, though still strong and healthy in the Spring, were yet the weakest of the whole lot, though in as good condition as the others when removed from the Apiracy in Antenna. Nothing similar occurred in the colonies which had even partial ventilation.