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AUSTRALASIAN 



ing sight of their future surroundings, is indeed interesting. 

 Hives for observatory purposes can be so constructed as to 

 allow of the interior being examined at pleasure by the most 

 timid person without disturbing or exciting the bees. 



The most simple form of this hive may be made to hold one 

 frame only, but for several reasons I prefer one that will take 



Fig. 58.— OBSERVATORY HIVES. 



three. The engraving represents the one I have in use. This, 

 as will be seen, has three leaves (cases), each of which holds an 

 ordinary Langstroth frame. The centre one is a fixture, while 

 the two outside leaves may be opened to allow of both sides of 

 each comb being inspected. The woodwork of the cases is 

 made of battens 2in. wide by lin. thick ; a narrow groove to 

 take the glass sides is run along each inner edge, so that the 

 sides may be just lfin. apart, the length and height of each 

 case inside being the same as a Langstroth hive. A one-inch 

 hole should be bored out of the bottom of the front end of each 

 face to form an entrance for the bees. Next cut an entrance 

 fin. deep in the bottom board, somewhat like an ordinary 

 entrance ; then over the back part of this tack a flat piece on 

 tin having two tubes, lin. in diameter and lin. high, soldered on 



