THE APIA.EY; OB, 



NEIGHBOUE'S UNICOMB OBSERVATORY HIVE. No. 20. 



This hive is well adapted 

 for those persons who are 

 desirous of having the oppor- 

 tunity of closely examining 

 the workmanship of these 

 industrious and interesting 

 insects. It is particularly 

 intended for a window recess 

 or an indoor apiary ; and will 

 also be found an interesting addition to the green house. An aperture 

 should be cut in the sash corresponding with the entrance to the 

 hive, through which the bees may find egress and ingress, without 

 being able to gain access to the apartment, as on the plan in the 

 case of the Ladies' Observatory Hive. 



The Unicomb Hive is constructed of so narrow a width between 

 this plates of glass that it admits of one comb only to be built, and at 

 the same time leaves space between the comb and the_glass on either 

 side for the bees to pass and repass. It is thus made so that every 

 bee may be exposed to view. The queen forming the most prominent 

 feature of attention, she is readily distinguished by the greater 

 length of her body, as weE as by the attention paid to her by the 

 other bees. 



The mode of stocking this hive is as foUows : — procure a strong 

 swarm if practicable, and let it be first hived into a common straw 

 hive in the usual way. Take care to make the necessary preparations 

 previous to the operation of stocking ; for this purpose first unscrew 

 the top and take out the bar intended for the foundation of the 

 comb. A sort of wooden trough, contrived to act as a funnel, is 

 provided with this hive. It is in separate pieces, so as to be packed 

 conveniently, and requires screwing together. The funnel must now 

 be attached to the hive, and care be taken that it is quite firmly 

 fixed — the metal plates are attached for this purpose. Having 

 made these preparations at dusk, dash the bees out on to a cloth 

 or sheet spread on the ground, place four pieces of wood so as to 

 raise the hive a little from the cloth; then invert the hive so 

 as to have the funnel downwards, placing it over the bees, and 

 letting it rest on the four pieces of wood just named. In a short 



