14 



Roman troops, and at one time gave them only a 

 road way along the Mediterranean sea to pass from 

 Italy to Gaul ; I trust these bees then will belie their 

 name and not filch the honey from our poor honest 

 brown bee and their hives, although I cannot see how the 

 Ligurians can collect more from a given quantity of flowers 

 and a shorter summer's work. You will find a collection of 

 these Ligurian bees and queens in the room, and also a 

 novel interesting collection of bees sent to me to exhibit 

 from Mr. P. Smith, of the British Museum. The honey 

 bee of Canaan and the Egyptian bee, with stingless bees of 

 Brazil, are in the case, and with the humble-bee of our 

 country, you will see the splendid large wood boring bees of 

 the East, and parts of Europe (I have seen the violet 

 coloured bee in Geneva), and with a collection also of the 

 ichneumon. I must turn now to describe the mode of form- 

 ing Queen bees from the Ligurian Stocks. 



Dr. Bevan begins his chapter on bee boxes thus : — 

 " There has been some difference of opinion as to the most 

 suitable dimensions of bee boxes," and upon this I cannot 

 do better than observe that all bee book makers and bee- 

 hive sellers have traded for the last thirty years on that 

 question, and one of the greatest failures we have had, and 

 that has deluded the poor bee keepers most has been Mr. 

 Nutt's system of ventilation of collateral hives, I need hardly 

 add to those who know the Natural History of the Bee, the 

 reason being simply from the habits of the bees, as they 

 can at any moment prevent any contrivances of man to 

 carry this out effectually, as they merely cluster at the edge 

 of the parallel combs, and no air can enter thus 

 by attempting this foolish plan to prevent swarming ! the 

 bees are made to keep within the hives and issue only the 

 first fine warm day, when they dare leave the brood, &c. 

 I will just read an extract from a Professor " Hammett," 

 who has made a report on the hives exhibited at Paris the 

 last year, he is a professor of some bee knowledge, when I 

 inform you that Mr. Pettitt, of Dover, who gained a medal 



