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diminution of bees. On the date that crawling in the parent stock 

 appeared (July ist) the observation hive was removed to a new 

 situation 22 miles distant. On the 2nd and 3rd, dysentery became 

 very marked in the observation stock, which owing to the bad 

 weather had to be fed continuously. The bees were given both 

 syrup and candy. Very few flew, even when the weather was 

 favourable. They fed readily, but mostly did not leave the comb. 

 Crawling bees were in evidence in moderate numbers, and 

 eventually the queen ceased to lay. The mortality within the hive 

 was not excessive, but owing to the crawling losses the numbers 

 steadily dwindled. The faeces of the bees were thin and watery, 

 later they became thicker and ropy looking. The appearance of 

 the bees when out of the hive, crawling, making short hopping 

 flights, as well as the condition of the alimentary canal with con- 

 gested colons, were not distinguishable from those seen in Isle of 

 Wight disease, and we concluded that the disease was present. 

 After the queen ceased laying, and the numbers had become much 

 reduced, a recovery seemed to take place, the dysentery ceased and 

 the bees ceased to crawl, but they were too few to build up. With 

 warming indoors and feeding, this lot of bees improved in condition 

 and became much more active. The weather also improved at this 

 time, and opportunities were thus given the bees for flight. They 

 still crawled, but in fewer numbers, and there was less dysentery. 

 They did not collect pollen, and it is doubtful if any honey was 

 gathered. The flying seemed to be about the hive simply. 



The improvement continued, and on the 15th dysentery was 

 absent and only a few crawlers were seen. A greater proportion 

 flew. They fed readily from supplies given, but did not seem to be 

 gathering stores ; so far the queen had not recommenced to lay. 



The significance of the aforementioned facts lies in the practi- 

 cally simultaneous appearance of disease symptoms in the parent 

 stock and in the bees which had been isolated from it at least a 

 fortnight previously. During the period from the llth April until 

 1st July there were no observed indications of the disease, and 

 when it did appear upon the latter date, very large numbers showed 

 the symptoms suddenly. The sudden outbreak in the two lots 

 which lived together for two months, but which had been widely 

 separated for a fortnight, strengthens the view that the disease had 

 a common source in both, and adds to the probability that that 

 source was the diseased element introduced upon the nth April. 



No. 3. On 14th May 1917 a stock of Dutch bees occupying 

 a new hive and with new frames and foundation was found to be 

 actively robbing a small stock rich in stores which was suffering 

 from Isle of Wight disease. Contamination having thus been 

 established, and the robbed stock being reduced to the limits of 

 one frame, it was added with the bulk of its stores to the Dutch 

 stock. 



Up till the beginning of July this stock prospered in a normal 

 manner, and no signs of disease ever became apparent. At this 

 date preparations for swarming developed. The bees covered ten 

 frames thickly and there was brood upon nine. We made an 

 artificial swarm, but discovering later that the parent stock was 



