64 



HANDY BOOK OF BEES. 



bees require breathing-^oom at their doors, as well as a 

 broad landing-stage. All birds and insects fill tbeir bodies 

 with air before they take wing. A pheasant hops while 

 he does this, and a pigeon does it by taking two or three 

 deep inspirations. If the pheasant is suddenly disturbed, 

 and has to rise without hopping a bit, he does rise, but 

 so heavily and slowly — with a great cackling noise — that 

 he is often knocked down by the shot of the sportsman 

 ere he gets a fair start. 



If bees have a broad flight-board they run in and out 

 quickly. 



Two boards marked for sawing out of a deal board. 



The Door of the Hive. 



Some bee-keepers have channels cut in the boards for 

 doors. Where this is done, the flight-boards are uneven 

 and unlevel ; but the hives are uncut. We prefer level 

 boards, with doors 4 inches wide and 1 inch high cut in 

 the hives. Our system of feeding, which wUl be men- 

 tioned hereafter, requires the flight-boards to be level. 



