No. 23.— 1881.] BEE CULTURE. 29 



all the honey as well as the brood combs ; the former they 

 retain, and the latter are thrown away, a great waste of material 

 and reckless destruction of bee-life. When the next swarming 

 season comes round, which is between March and April, a 

 fresh pot is fumigated with resin, is placed in the same position 

 for the next supply of honey, which is obtained in July or 

 August. The largest supply the natives so obtain is about three 

 or four bottles of liquid honey. With regard to the wild bees 

 they always build in the crevices and hollows of rocks and trees, 

 and, if not removed by bee-hunters in proper season, they them- 

 selves consume the produce of their labour, and abandon the 

 empty combs and betake themselves to the woods ; and it is 

 firmly believed by the natives, that when the swarming season 

 comes round they return to their old haunts and set to work 

 again. 



2nd.— Danduwel (Apis Florea) is an unprofitable bee, pro- 

 ducing very little honey. It attaches its solitary semi-circular 

 combs 9 in. by 5 in. to the branch of a tree. Its honey is 

 esteemed by the natives as being cool and nice, but this species 

 is not at all adapted for rearing purposes, as its produce is very 

 scanty. 



3T&.—Bambard (Apis Dorsata) is a large bee prettily marked 

 with yellow and black, and makes a large quantity of honey 

 varying from two to three gallons. It constructs its hive, a large 

 thick comb about 3 J ft. by 2J ft. in a peculiar shape, attaching 

 it to the branches of very lofty forest trees, or securing it to the 

 ledges of high rocks with its two ends fastened up, and having a 

 narrow opening in the middle. It is with great difficulty got 

 at by bee-hunters, and only by those used to such kind of work. 



At the proper season three or four experienced men start on 

 the expedition armed with knives and ropes and a quantity 

 of straw and other-materials (for smoking and burning the bees). 

 Having reached the woods where the bees are located the 

 hunters commence operations on a calm day. First they smoke 



