Mr. Hunter's Observations on Bees. 131 
misfortunes in experiments have brought things to our know- 
ledge that were not, and probably could not have been 
previously conceived : on the other hand, I have often devised 
experiments by the fireside, or in my carriage, and have also 
conceived the result ; but when I tried the experiment, the 
result was different ; or I found that the experiment could not 
be attended with all the circumstances that were suggested. 
As bees, from their numbers, hide very much their operations, 
it is necessary to have such contrivances as will explore their 
ceconomy. Hives, with glass lights in them, often shew some 
of their operations, and when wholly of glass, still more ; but 
as they form such a cluster, and begin their comb in the centre, 
little can be seen till their work becomes enlarged, and, by 
that time, they have produced a much larger quantity of bees, 
so as still to obscure their progress. Very thin glass hives are 
the best calculated for exposing their operations ; the distance 
from side to side about three inches ; of a height and length 
sufficient for a swarm of bees to complete one summer's work 
in. As one perpendicular comb, the whole length and height 
of the hive, in the centre, dividing it into two, is the best posi- 
tion for exposing their operations, it is necessary to give them 
a lead or direction to form it so ; therefore it is proper to make 
a ridge along the top from end to end, in the centre, between 
the two sides, for they like to begin their comb from an emi- 
nence ; if we wished to have them transverse, or oblique, it 
would only be necessary to make transverse, or oblique ridges 
in the hive. I had one made of two broad pieces of plate-glass, 
with glass ends, which answered for simple exposure very 
well ; but I often saw operations going on, when I wished to 
have caught some of the bees, or to take out a piece of comb, 
S 2 
