THE HONEY-BEE AND OTHER SOCIAL ANIMALS 303 



able wooden roof. Ordinarily the wooden sides and top 

 are closed, thus leaving the hive in darkness. However, 

 when it is desired to observe the bees at work within, the 

 wooden sides are swung open; the glass still incloses the 

 busy community, but affords an opportunity to see the 

 actual performance of such interesting duties as wax- 

 making, comb-building, food-storing, egg-laying, nurs- 

 ing, etc. An observation hive may be obtained from a 

 dealer in beehives or be made out of an ordinary hive 



Fic;. 240. — An "observation" beehive with glass top and sides. (Drawn 

 from hive in the author's laboratory. ) 



by any carpenter or ingenious boy. It should be set up 

 in the spring. It can be kept in the schoolyard, or even 

 better, in the schoolroom itself Substitute for a pane of 

 glass in a window a thin wooden pane in which is cut a 

 narrow horizontal opening, the size of the regular hive 

 opening. If the latter is too broad it may be covered 

 over at the ends. Set the observation hive on a table 

 or box against the window so that its opening corre- 

 sponds with that in the window. Or better, place it 

 about six or eight inches from the window and build an 



