8o BEEHIVES AND BEE KEEPERS' APPLIANCES, 



the window frame If in. broad, a small reduction 

 in its internal breadth and depth being allowed to 

 suit. On each side of the windows, and fixed to the 

 case, are the strips R (Figs. 69 and 71), to which 

 small catches, that secure the windows in their 

 places, are screwed. Four shutters s (see also Fig. 

 70), hinged to the case, are provided to shut out 

 the light as well as to retain heat. They are framed 

 and filled in with a panel, and should be provided 

 with a bolt at the top and bottom of one of the 

 shutters, and a latch on the other. Some bee 

 keepers recommend lining the inside of the shutters 

 with felt or other heat-retaining material ; but as 

 this hive is only for use in the warm season of the 

 year, this is unnecessary. 



The hive should be set up within doors ; a warm 

 out-house or shed will do very well, or a room in a 

 dwelling-house might be used for the purpose. A 

 covered passage must be made through the wall 

 to the outside for the bees. A small bracket land- 

 ing place for the bees is shown by dotted lines 

 close to the entrance L (Fig. 69). 



In stocking an observatory hive of this kind, 

 select three combs from the centre of a strong 

 colony in a bar-frame hive containing plenty of 

 brood in all stages from the egg upwards. Lift 

 them out, and place one at a time into the uni- 

 comb hive with the bees clinging to them, taking 

 care that the queen bee is also moved in. It is 

 advisable that a large proportion of the bees to 

 populate the observatory hive should be young 

 ones that have not flown, otherwise there is great 

 risk of depleting it, through the older bees going 

 back to the hive from which they were taken. 

 On this account it is preferable to operate on a 

 fine, warm day, at a time when many of the older 

 bees are out, and it is then a comparatively easy 

 matter to take with a stiff feather or piece of 

 card from several frames as many young bees 

 (known by their lighter colour) as are required. 



