THE SHOW-BOX. 247 



twelve drones, into the box with her. A 

 lefs number of bees than a pint will be too 

 few ; and a greater will fo much crowd the 

 comb as to prevent the view defigned. 

 Clofe the top by one half of the glafs, and 

 the other by a perforated piece of tin. When- 

 ever the door is unftopped, both pieces of 

 glafs muft be laid over, or there will be too 

 great a draught of air. Throw over them 

 a cloth, and let them remain till the morn- 

 ing ; then unftop the door fo as to admit a 

 paflage of two bees at a time. If on the 

 fecond day the bees feem contented, entirely 

 unftop the door, and give them a trough of 

 food. Refrain from opening the fhutters 

 for four or five days, and then but feldom, 

 till they have begun to collect, and repair 

 the combs, or it will difguft them, and caufe 

 a defertion of the box, which will fome- 

 times happen notwithftanding. 



For the queen and her fubje&s, being ufed 

 to a much greater heat, to a larger fociety, 

 and a more commodious habitation, will be 

 very much difpleafed at fuch a fcanty tene- 

 ment, and not foon reconciled to it. 



But however difgufting it may be, if the 

 R 4 queen 



