BKI-S. 93 



called for some cliang-e in the details. For instance, a con- 

 uiderable amount of heat is required for building* combs. 

 I^he external temperature may be sufficient during- the hot 

 days for this purpose, but in this very changeable climate, 

 a succession of cold days is very likely indeed to take 

 pbce. If, therefore, the bee-master suffers as much of the 

 external air to pass into the hive on the cold days as on the 

 hot, of course the temperature will be too low, and he will 

 find no combs made. With reg-ard to the occasional occur- 

 rence of hrood in the side-boxes, notwithstanding- careful 

 ventilation, Mr. Westwood thinks that probably a swarm, 

 instead of leaving- the hive with the queen, has taken posses- 

 sion of the side-box, which doubtless appeared to them to he 

 a very pleasant place, without the trouble of searching-. He 

 also supposes that two or more swarms of bees can make use 

 of the same entrance without quarrelling-, and supports this 

 view by the instance of those large colonies of hees which 

 take undisturbed possession of roofs of houses, &c., and which 

 increase to a very great extent. 



UNICOMB AND LEAF HIVES. 



The above-mentioned hives are intended to procure for the 

 bee-master as much honey and as many bees as possible, but 

 are of comparatively little use in the hands of one whose 

 chief object in keeping bees is to observe the habits and ])ro- 

 ceedings of these interesting insects. For this purpose it is 

 necessary to have a hive which shall be so flat as not to 

 permit the bees, by crowding- together, to hide the proceed- 

 ings of the queen, or to hinder their own habits from being- 

 observed j and at the same time to give room for the bees, 

 and a firm hold for their combs. The greater part of the 

 hive must also be made of some transparent substance, such 

 as glass, or, as some prefer, talc. The usual form now em- 

 ployed, is a modification of that invented and used by Huber, 

 who is said to have obtained the first idea of a fiat hive from 

 the Candiotes. By Joining together several of these hives, 

 he also procured plenty of honey in addition to the opportu- 

 nities which they afforded of inspecting the habits of the 

 bees. 



The hivcj or rather box, is oblong, the height about eighteen 



