VOL. VIII.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 81 



The worthy and intelligent author of this book comprehends in a small 

 volume whatever has been designed and practised by the latest and most ex- 

 perienced engineers of this age, Italian, French, Dutch and English ; and the 

 manner of defending and besieging forts and other places ; with the use of a 

 joint-ruler or sector, for the speedy description of any fortification. The whole 

 performed by very easy rules. 



III. The Elements of that Mathematical Science called Algebra, by John 

 Kersey. Lon. An. l673, in fol. 



A remarkably full and complete body of the algebraic art ; perhaps the most 

 so of any book of its time. 



Description of a Bee-house, tised in Scotland. N*^ 96, p. 6076. 



In fig. 4, plate 2, A represents the bee-house, lying on one side, with the 

 frame BBBBBBBB placed in it; CCCC, the screw pins that hold the frame 

 fast ; D, the square hole at top open ; E, the windows ; F, the door for the bees 

 to go in and out ; G, the place by which the knife enters to cut the honey- 

 combs asunder upon occasion; HH, the inward crease at the bottom. 



In fig. 5, A, is the bee-house set upright ; B, the square hole through which 

 the bees work downward; C, the shutter that covers the hole upon occasion; 

 D, the door for the bees. E, a sliding shutter that covers the door in winter ; 

 F, the window ; GG, the handles for lifting all; HH, the crease for fastening 

 one bee-house over another. 



In fig. 6, A is the frame for the bees to fasten their work upon ; BB the 

 screw nails. 



The bee- house is made of wainscot, about 16 inches in height, and 23 in 

 breadth, between opposite sides. It has 8 sides, each almost 9 inches in breadth. 

 It is close covered at top with boards, having a square hole in the middle, 5 

 inches long, and about 4 inches broad ; with a shutter that slides to and fro in a 

 groove, about half an inch longer than the hole. It has 2 windows opposite to 

 one another, and may have more, of any figure, with panes of glass and shut- 

 ters. The door for the bees is divided into three or four holes, about half an 



piled his New System of Mathematics, in 2 volumes 4to. In l673 he was sent by the government 

 in some public capacity to Tangier ; and after his return he was advanced to be surveyor of the 

 ordnance, and had the honour of knightliood. In l67-i he became a very useful member of the 

 Royal Society. Sir Jonas died in 168I, the year in which was published his Course of Mathematic, 

 abovementioned. Besides that work, we find him author of several others : as, 1. Arithmetic, 

 vulgar and algebraical, in 8vo. 2d, A Mathematical Compendium ; or Useful Practices in Arith- 

 metic, Geometry, Astronomy, Geography, Navigation, &c. in 12mo, the 4th edition in 1705, 

 3d, Modem Fortification, &c. in 8vo, 1(573. 4to, General Treatise of Artillery, in 8vo, 1^83. 



VOL. II. M 



