THE HONEY-BEE. 181 



or by iron wire. An entrance is made by cutting, in 

 the middle of the lower quarter of the frame, a notch 

 sloping upwards from the outside. There must be 

 an entrance both before and behind, the doors of 

 which are opened and shut at pleasure. This hive 

 must be covered with a wooden surtout resting on 

 the floor-board. To save the trouble of lifting it off 

 every time we observe the bees, an opening is .made 

 in each side with a shutter fitted to it, of the same 

 size with the glass ; and as it is necessary that the 

 bees should be kept from getting between the hive 

 and the surtout, there must be a covered passage 

 leading to the outside. This hive presents great 

 facilities for making experiments, and for observing 

 the proceedings of the bees, which being prevented 

 from constructing more than one comb, cannot con- 

 ceal any part of their operations as in other hives. 

 They soon become accustomed to the removal of the 

 surtout, and are not at all disturbed by our observ- 

 ing them. The Queen may be followed in all her 

 movements, and even in her laying. It is easy to 

 lay hold of her at any time, either in the hive or in 

 the passage. The bees may be fed and retained 

 prisoners ; they may be forced to make wax from 

 honey, honey from sugar, &c. In short, all the ex- 

 periments that have ever been made, may be verified 

 by means of this hive, the result found, arid new 

 experiments tried. In spite of its peculiar advan- 

 tages, however, it has inconveniences which annoy 

 the Naturalist. It is very difficult to introduce a 

 swarm into it, how much soever the operator may 



