WINTER MANAGEMENT. 239 
nailed to a post sunk in the ground, and large 
enough to throw the whole front into shade. This 
does not interfere with the coming forth of the bees 
at a proper temperature; and it supersedes any 
necessity for shutting them up when snow is on the 
ground. The screen should be fixed a foot or two 
in advance, and so as to intercept the sun’s rays, 
which will be chiefly in winter towards the west side. 
Other pians have been tried for effecting the same 
object, such as blocks placed at the mouth of the 
hive; but these answer no good end, as the rays of 
light penetrate underneath and around them. In a 
bee-house, entirely enclosed at the front, the hives 
and their boards may sometimes at this season be 
advantageously shifted a little sideways of the 
exterior entrance-way; with hollowed blocks (see 
page 151), shaped in accordance, to intercept the 
light, but not the air. 
A screen of the kind we have described has the 
further tendency to promote the security of the bees, 
where other enemies than wind, frost, snow, or sun 
might sometimes endanger them. One of these, at 
this time, is the blue titmouse, to which we have 
before alluded. Old Purchas says, ‘‘She will eat 
ten or twelve bees at a time, and by-and-by be 
ready for more. When she cometh to the hive and 
findeth none, she knocketh with her bill at the door, 
and as soon as the bees come out to enquire the 
cause, she catcheth first one and then another, until 
her belly be full.” At page 187 we have described a 
mode of dealing with these marauders. 
Internal Arrangements.—It should be observed that, 
