Now we will consider the theory that the bees warm up the hive in winter and early spring. It is hard to understand how this theory could be accepted by the bee-keepers during so many years. One may as well try to warm a room with an open door by the heat of his own body. What shall we think of this warming up theory if even the recommenders of the small winter space tell us that sometimes hoar-frost is formed on the combs or ice on the alighting board? The bees have quite another way; they form a globular and compact cluster and keep all the heat produced by themselves inside this cluster, the outside bees forming the nonconducting overcoat.
L Stachelhausen (1902) Progressive Bee-keeper, Volume 11
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