68 



second super was required, and some excellent sections were removed. 

 Crawling began on 10th September, and was very typical when observed on 

 the following day. On 12th October, all the bees were dead except the 

 queen and a handful of workers. This stock was situated about 200 yards 

 distant from the Nicolson Apiary. 



Sixth Attack. Stock EIj^. — This stock consisted of Swiss pedigreed bees 

 (blacks), and was imported from Exeter on 4th June 1913. When a super 

 was added on 9th June the hive was crowded with bees and brood. When 

 examined nine days later the super was crowded with bees, the foundation 

 had been drawn out, and some honey stored in the cells. The stock had 

 been placed in a garden which had not previously been used for bee-keeping, 

 a short distance from the Nicolson Apiary. 



On the 19th, bees were observed crawling in front of the hive, exactly a 

 fortnight after their arrival in Lewis. Numerous bees were examined on the 

 spot, their intestinal contents being searched microscopically. Nosema spores 

 were not found. Sick bees were sent to Cambridge, and regarding these Dr 

 Annie Porter reported : " A very few spores in one bee, young stages in some 

 of the others, the rest negative." Notwithstanding the apparent paucity of 

 Nosema-ini^Q.tedi bees, the mortality amongst members of this stock continued, 

 and at this period was exceedingly heavy. On 7th July, the Swiss queen 

 was replaced by a Cyprian imported from Nicosia. The Swiss queen was 

 caged with some Cyprian bees, and died of injuries received from them. 

 She was sent to Dr Annie Porter, Cambridge, for examination, but no report 

 was obtained regarding her condition. By this time, not many blacks were 

 left alive ; by September the stock was weak in numbers, but apparently 

 healthy, and very few blacks were present. On 16th September, one 

 of these was found to contain spores in abundance, but no spores were 

 found in the young Cyprians. A few of these were observed to "crawl" 

 on fine days, but the stock proved too weak to winter, and was allowed to 

 die out. 



Seventh Attack. Two Stocks affected, Gp. and Gs. — A stock of black 

 English bees had been brought to Stornoway from the mainland of Ross 

 (Duirinish) in the autumn of 1909. It prospered normally during 1910, 

 1911, and 1912, producing several swarms, and giving surplus honey. In 

 1913 it swarmed on 25th July. " Crawling " began in the swarm three days 

 after it was hived, and was well marked and typical when observed on 16th 

 August. On this date a few crawlers were observed in front of the parent 

 stock. On 6th September, when the apiary was again visited no crawlers 



