182 HIVES. 



have been accustomed to manage bees. The insects 

 cannot cluster together in it, as in other hives, and 

 concentrate the heat during winter, and, therefore, 

 are liable to perish; and the smallest variation of 

 the atmosphere is injurious to the brood. If, in order 

 to preserve it, it is put into a warm place, it must be 

 constantly fed." 



This is the kind of hive we have made use of in 

 our experiments ; and as the figure, given by Febu- 

 rier, (Plate XII., fig. 3,) is but little adapted to con- 

 vey a correct idea of it, we shall present our readers 

 with a sketch of our own hive, exhibiting what we 

 consider some improvements on the original. Fig. 

 2, P 1 ve XII., is the frame which contains the comb, 

 t*'o feet long and eighteen inches high, inside mea- 

 sure. The uprights A and B, and the top piece c, 

 are two inches broad, and one inch thick ; f, f t are 

 cross sticks, about three-eighths of an inch square, for 

 supporting the comb ; c is a piece of comb fixed in 

 the frame for a guide ; g, g, are two iron staples, by 

 which the frame is secured to the floor-board. Fig. 

 4, represents one of the outer frames containing two 

 panes of glass, A and B, each eighteen inches high 

 and twelve broad, fixed in slender frames which are 

 hinged to the outer-frame, and shut flush with it, 

 resting against a vertical bar, c, which is half an inch 

 square. When the two outer frames are applied 

 and fastened by means of hooks and eyes, one on 

 each side, to the inner frame containing the comb, 

 the distance between the glasses is exactly twenty 

 lines, or If of an inch. The panes bein^ made to 



