the Italian queen was the source of infection. Subsequent dis- 

 coveries as narrated below tend to confirm this view. 



Frequent examinations showed that a very high proportion of 

 the bees of this stock were infected with the parasite. Foragers 

 arriving at the hive bearing pollen were found with cells from end 

 to end of the chyle stomach to all appearances completely filled 

 with Nosetna spores. In other cases the infection was very heavy 

 but partial, some parts of the chyle stomach being comparatively 

 free from spores, but showing other stages. There were no signs 

 of dysentery. The weather during August was extremely wet, but 

 became finer in September, although very windy. Towards the 

 end of September the nucleus covering about two frames was 

 spirited and busy. The queen was laying and pollen being carried 

 in. Owing to the high situation of the hive, the bees had difficulties 

 in reaching it in a high wind, and eventually it became clear that 

 the stock, which all along had been active, was suffering 

 considerable loss from this cause. There had always been a 

 good proportion of brood and young bees, yet the stock did not 

 increase up to expectations. On the 27th, after several days of 

 boisterous, although dry and sunny weather, a search was made in 

 the neighbourhood of the hive for stray bees which might have 

 been presumed to have been blown away and which were unable 

 to return. The hive was situated at the end of a large concreted 

 roof with a southern exposure. The space in the immediate 

 vicinity of the hive has always been found free from bees except 

 immediately below the alighting board, and this was so on the day 

 named. About 14 to 20 yards distant along the west side of the 

 roof in the shelter of a low parapet a considerable number of bees 

 were found ; most were alive and crawling slowly on the ground, 

 and on being collected and warmed in a small cage, they nearly all 

 recovered and flew. To our surprise the queen was found dead 

 about 18 yards distant from the hive. Fortunately no question 

 can arise as to the identity of these bees, including the queen, since, 

 as already noted, this was a solitary stock of Italian bees on an 

 exceptionally high elevation in the heart of the city. Further, no 

 bees are known to be within a very considerable radius of the site. 

 Since it was found on the ist October that there were two queen 

 cells and also two drone cells on the frame, and further, since eggs 

 had been seen on the 25th, the loss of the queen must have been 

 recent. 



On examination the queen proved to be extremely heavily- 

 infected with Nosetna. The chyle stomach cells where not ruptured, 

 were seen to be nothing but sacs packed with spores. It is 

 probable that she left the hive voluntarily or was driven from it by 

 the bees on account of her condition. As already stated, there 

 were present in the hive at this time queen cells showing that she 

 had been layings up to practically the time she left the hive. If 

 the conclusion that the queen introduced Nosetna to this small lot 

 of bees is correct, then it would appear that she herself lived for a 

 period of at least four months in an infected condition. 



On the date on which the queen was found twenty-six dead 

 workers were recovered. These were pulped and examined, but 

 no Nosetna spores were found. On the floor of the hive a number 



