OBSERVATIONS, ETC. 37 



the juxtaposition of heather and cultivated land, abounding 

 in white clover, the honey-gathering season extends over the 

 greater part of the year. 



''^ The successful introduction of the Apis Lifjustica, of 

 Spinola, or Apis Zigurienne, of Latreiile, is to be recorded. 

 Several stocks are now doing well in various parts of the 

 kingdom ; the species promises to be a valuable addition to 

 our somewhat meagre list of domesticated animals. 



" Witliin the last fe\Y years, a great impetus has been given 

 to practical bee-keeping, on a profitable scale, by the introduc- 

 tion of hives, in wliich each comb is contained in a separate 

 frame, which can be removed at pleasure; this plan places 

 the hive under perfect control, as combs can be removed for 

 deprivation of honey, for the artificial breeding of queens, 

 for strengthening weak stocks, or any other purpose that 

 may be required." 



The employment of these hives has been much advocated bv 

 Dzierzon in Germany, Langstroth in America, and by Mr. 

 Tegetmeier, the Secretary of the xipiarian Society in Eng- 



Another eifect produced by the late summerless year has 

 been a great diminution of the brilliancy of colouring in 

 many species. I have observed of the largest species of 

 British Andrenidce, the Andrena Sattorfiana, that in fine 

 hot summers the highly-coloured examples have been the 

 most numerous; this species is black, with the abdomen 

 more or less red, or sometimes it is entirely black. In 1857 

 I captured thirty specimens of this fine insect, rather more 

 than half of them were highly coloured examples; last season 

 1 took seventeen, only three of which exhibited any trace of 

 the red colouring on the abdomen. Another species of the 

 same genus, A. Cetii, has usuallv the greater portion of the 

 abdomen red, dark coloured examples being of rare occur- 



