110 THE HUMBLE-BEE . vil 
edge was inserted in a groove made in the edge of 
the wooden disc, as shown in Fig. 23. This made 
a splendid joint, remaining practically waterproof 
and vermin-proof in all weathers. To prepare the 
domicile, it was only necessary to place the cover 
over a cavity made in the ground for the nest, and 
to tread or stamp on it, so that the metal rim entered 
the ground. Thus no crevice was left for vermin 
or rain to get in. The cover was also easily lifted 
and replaced. It seemed a great improvement on 
the old method of digging out a sod and placing 
a tile under it, and my hopes for it, as will be seen, 
were justified.’ 
Between April 1 and the middle of May, seventy 
nests were laid down under these covers in and 
around the apiary, in my garden, and around the 
edges of the surrounding plantations of trees. They 
were placed in grassy ground where the turf was 
firm and fine, the metal rim cutting into the turf and 
making for itself a bed, out of which it could be 
lifted without raising the surrounding surface when 
I wished to examine the nests. The nests were 
made of the prepared grass already described. The 
tunnels connecting the nests to the surface varied in 
length from about 15 in. to 18 in., and were at 
first made about # in. wide, but, as many got choked, 
they were enlarged about the middle of May to 
14 inch. 
The nests under these close-fitting covers were 
1 This cover has been registered, and arrangements have been made for 
dealers in bee-appliances and entomological apparatus to supply it. 
