9 6 



THE HUMBLE-BEE 



VI 



sheet of glass is placed over the uppermost section, 

 and through this the bees can be seen at work. 



The domiciles are connected by flexible tubes 

 made of spiral tinned -steel wire to holes bored 

 through the bottom plates of the house. These 

 holes are made as far from one another as possible, 

 so that the workers of each nest do not mistake 



Vestibule 

 Fig. 20. -The Sections or Storeys shown separately. 



their neighbours' entrances for their own two holes 

 being bored in each end and two in each side of 

 the house. I found the workers were inclined to 

 slip as they ascended the tubes, and in order to 

 provide them with a good foothold, I intend next 

 year to coat the tubes with varnish, and to pass 

 sand through them while the varnish is wet. 



The chief point requiring attention in an indoor 

 nest of humble-bees is the keeping of it clean and 

 sweet ; but I find that this can be managed by 



