326 MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. [Ch. vi. 



archipelago of sugar islands. " Day by day the swarms of 

 these uninvited visitors increased, until all legitimate cus- 

 tomers were beaten off; and the old dame had to see, 

 not only her hope of gain destroyed, but her stock of 

 "goodies" sensibly diminishing by the thefts of these 

 brigands of the air. She could not, or dared not attempt 

 to, drive the intruders away, so made diligent enquiry as 

 to where the robbers were harboured. Having traced 

 them to our establishment in Regent Street, she came to 

 implore of us to move the bees if possible, or she would 

 have to move her stall, and so lose her " connection " in 

 the " toffee" and " rock " trade. Wishing not to hinder 

 the poor woman in gaining jier livelihood, we decided on 

 removing our bees into the country. 



Another special instance of bees being profitably kept 

 in proximity to the busy thoroughfares of London is now 

 before us. Two years ago we supplied a stock of 

 English bees to a gentleman residing in the Strand, the 

 back windows of whose house open on the Thames Em- 

 bankment and the river. Thus the bees have a fine open 

 flight, as their hive is placed against the sash on a third 

 floor (an opening is cut to match the entrance, so that 

 the bees have a covered way to their hive) ; from this 

 they are seen taking their flight across the river Thames, 

 to what may be thought the unattractive locality of 

 Lambeth. However, they seem to reach some "green 

 fie'ds and pastures new," probably in the gardens of the 

 archbishop's palace, for they return laden with pollen 



