§ XVII.] OUTDOOR UNICOMB HIVE. 159 



the crowd of ever-busy workers, either building their 

 combs or storing honey, may be always seen, as present- 

 ing a veritable tableau vivant. 



Another improvement that we have made upon Mr. 

 Woodbury's pattern is that of adapting to admit the 

 frames and this has necessitated an increase in size. The 

 outside dimensions are nearly three feet square and seven 

 inches deep from back to front. Provision is made at 

 top for feeding, and for wol'king two small flat-top glasses 

 for deprivation, which are protected by the weather- 

 board. An alighting-board is placed at the centre, close 

 under the entrance. The hive can, however, be placed 

 indoors, when it must be adjusted to the window-sash 

 like the indoor unicomb in the next section. 



-In the summer of 1863 we had ample proof of the 

 success of this hive during its exhibition at the annual 

 show of the Bath and West of England Agricultural 

 Society at Exeter. We selected six combs, and packed 

 them in one of the square box Woodbury frame hives, 

 and, on a.rrival at Exeter, placed them in the unicomb. 

 That being fixed against the boarded side of a shed, we 

 found the covered way a great convenience, and it an- 

 swered remarkably well ; the bees did not seem to be 

 inconvenienced by having to travel through so long a 

 passage. A glass covering admitted a full view of the 

 little labourers as they crowded in, and the sight of them 

 very much enhanced the interest of visitors examining 

 the hive. 



