vi PREFACE TO THE THIRD EDITION. 



or less degree with the supers, the covers, and the bee 

 contrivances of every kind. 



The chapter on " Manipulation " has been equally 

 enlarged, having throughout been collated with the 

 chapters on that branch in Mr. Langstroth's " Honey 

 Bee." For very many valuable additions, both large and 

 small, we are therefore indebted to that source, and we 

 have also some obligations to acknowledge to Mr. 

 Cheshire's " Practical Bee-keeping." 



It is in reference chiefly to this department that so 

 many transpositions have been made from the arrange- 

 ment of the matter in former editions. Finding that by 

 giving extensive practical directions under nearly every 

 individual hive we were losing much greatly needed space 

 by repetition, and at the same time giving less complete 

 instructions to each, we have endeavoured when possible 

 to comprise all this in articles of a general character, 

 and to retain under special hives or appliances such only 

 as was stricdy pecuhar to themselves. The system of 

 references now carried out, together with the numbering 

 of sections and displaying the numbers in the head-lines 

 of every page, will we trust remove even that small 

 apparent inconvenience which is the accompaniment of 

 a large and substantial gain. 



But perhaps more than all has the earlier part of our 

 work been enlarged and emended — that which treats on 

 the insect itself, its natural history, its reproductive 

 economy, its habits, and its structure. For this course 



