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after his retiral on taking up military service, by Miss Beatrice Simpson, M.A., 

 who continued this work. Mr Robert Ewen, M.A., Nicolson Institute, 

 Stornoway, has acted as local supervisor of the hives in Lewis since May 

 1915. We have also had the valued co-operation, in connection with the 

 Deeside epizootic, of Mr A. H. E. Wood, of Glassel House, and of Miss Nancy 

 Robinson, both of whom are bee experts of the British Bee-Keepers' 

 Association. The latter has provided a detailed record of the Deeside out- 

 break, which has proved of value as a basis for scientific study. 



We are indebted also to various local observers in Lewis and elsewhere 

 who have taken charge of experimental hives, forwarded diseased bees, and 

 otherwise supplied helpful information regarding the disease. 



IL— THE COURSE OF THE DISEASE, AS OBSERVED 

 IN THREE DISTINCT LOCALITIES. 



{a) Lewis Observations. 



Prior to the 20tb May 1909, all hive bees in Lewis had become extinct, 

 but on that date one stock was brought to Stornoway and placed in the 

 grounds of the Nicolson Institute. These were black bees obtained from 

 Wormit, Fife, and their previous history is unknown. In autumn of the 

 same year a second stock of black bees was imported from Duirinish, and 

 placed at Bayhead, Stornoway. Since 1909, other bees have been introduced 

 at various dates, as stocks or swarms, and some queens have also been imported. 

 At the present time there are bees in Stornoway, Lurebost, Sandwick, Bayble, 

 Tong, Tolsta, Barvas, Shawbost, Carloway, Breasclete, Achmore, Marybank, 

 Laxdale. The races include Blacks, Italians (Ligurians), Cyprians, Carniolans, 

 and certain hybrids. 



First Appearance of Isle of Wight Disease. — On the 20tb September 1910, 

 two lots of driven bees arrived in Stornoway from Sussex. They had come from 

 cottagers' skeps, but had travelled to Lewis in swarm boxes on standard combs 

 containing some honey. These standard combs probably came from the 

 apiary of the bee-master who " drove " the bees, and it is possible that the 

 disease was derived from these combs. One box was sent unopened to Bayble, 

 5^ miles from Stornoway, and the other lot was retained in Stornoway. The 

 bees in both cases were fed on syrup, settled down quietly, bred freely, and 

 gathered pollen up to 4th November 1910. 



On 31st January 1911, bees were observed crawling in front of this stock, 



