336 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, August 28, 1860. 
■time. Yet there is a breed of Pieds that combine these desirable 
qualities, their markings being permanent, and their form closely 
resembling that of the admired erect Belgian. This Nonpareil 
of the Canary Fancy, if I may be allowed so to call this variety, 
is but little known in this country, we must seek them on the 
Continent. They are, in my opinion, really beautiful birds, of 
great length, erect carriage, and rather stout build. The head is 
adorned with a full crest, dark-coloured, nearly black; the upper 
mandible slighlv coloured, the lower paler. The colouring of the 
crest must not descend below the curl of feathers. The whole 
of the wings—that is to say, the eighteen quill-feathers in each 
wing, the larger and lesser wing-coverts, and the scapular feathers, 
are coloured dark like the crest, as also the twelve quill-feathers 
of the tail and a few of the larger tail-coverts. The rest of the 
head, neck, breast, rump, thighs, vent, &c., are mealy or jonque. 
On the breast the feathers slightly fold over, forming a frill. The 
few I have had were of good constitutions and excellent singers, 
and I can confidently recommend them to the notice of English 
fanciers. When the body is of a rich orange jonque, and the 
crest, wings, and tail, cinnamon (or,- still better, blighter green), 
they would leave nothing to be desired ; but I have not yet seen 
a Green Pied of this variety.— B. P. Beent. 
(To be continued.) 
LIGURIAN BEES: 
THEIE FIRST INTRODUCTION INTO SCOTLAND. 
Having failed for the present to raise Ligurian queens in 
sufficient number to supply those who have applied to me, I have 
recently turned my attention exclusively to increasing my own 
stocks, with the view of avoiding a similar disappointment next 
year. Whilst doing this, however, one artificially-raised queen 
proved so dark that I feared to introduce her into one of my 
own hives, and, therefore, despatched her to a Berwickshire cor¬ 
respondent, who was so desirous of possessing the new species, 
that he was willing to run all risks. The following extracts from 
his letters may be considered interesting, describing as they do 
the adventures of the first Ligurian queen raised in England by 
artificial means, and despatched to seek her fortune as the first of 
her species that has been introduced into Scotland. 
“ 4th July, 1860. 
“ Dean Sir,—I duly received yours of the 30th ult. on the 
2nd inst., informing me of your sending the queen; but the box 
did not arrive until yesterday at mid-day. However, notwith¬ 
standing their detention, they arrived safe. Judging from the 
specimens of Ligurian bees accompanying the queen, they are 
much prettier than I had expected to see them. I took a queen 
from a hive of about 5 lbs. of bees in the afternoon, placed the 
box on the top of the hive, and withdrew the perforated division 
this morning, when I expected they would amalgamate in a 
friendly way ; but I am sorry to find that several of the Ligurians 
are already killed. I need not say that I regret this much, as it 
is a very cruel reception for .such far-travelled interesting strangers. 
However, I trust the queen is still safe, but will let you know 
ere long how they are getting on.—J. S.” 
“ 12 th July, 1860. 
“ Dear Sie, —It may be better for me at once to answer your 
inquiries in reference to the state of the Ligurian queen and bees 
on their arrival, as it may be some time yet ere the young brood 
make their appearance outside. 
“ I am not quite certain as to what quantity of food was un¬ 
consumed when they arrived, as I did not pay particular at¬ 
tention to it; but there was some of it in the net, and both queen 
and bees were hanging in a cluster on it, much in the same 
position as a swarm does when without comb. On taking otf 
the lid in the room, only one bee, which happened to be on the 
other side of the box, attempted to escape ; but, of course, only 
got to the window, when I replaced it. They had evidently been 
very composed during the journey, for there was not the slightest 
appearance of their having attempted to gnaw the net, and it 
seemed quite adapted for their holding on by. I was quite taken 
up with the ingenuity of the plan, which answered the double 
purpose of feeding through and holding by. 
“ I had no perforated zinc at hand, but tied a piece of net over 
and inverted the box. The next morning I withdraw the net 
after I heard that the bees were aware of their loss. On with¬ 
drawing the partition I placed the box so that I could see their 
coming into contact with the queen, and was not a little amused 
at the way they went about it. About six hours after they were 
put together I took off the box, as I could see that it was empty, 
only a small portion of food remained. All the Ligurians have 
been killed. I saw one the second day go into the hive, but have 
seen none since. The stock is doing well—about 40 lbs.—quite 
full of comb, and the queen promises to be very prolific, as there 
is a great deal of young brood in the comb that has been wrought 
since she was put in—both worker and drone. I am anxiously 
awaiting their appearance, and should be glad to find them turn 
out well, as there will be no lack of visitors to see them when 
they are fairly out. I can see that some regard the attempt to 
introduce them here as a hopeless scheme, notwithstanding ail 
that has been said and published about them.—Yours, J. S.” 
“ 14 th August, 1860. 
“ Deae Sie, —The Ligurians have now made their appearance 
in great numbers, and far exceed any expectations which I had 
entertained as to the probable result. I may tell you that I am 
exceedingly well pleased, and quite satisfied with my bargain. 
They appear to be fully as well marked as the lightest you sent 
with the queen. When the season is a little farther advanced I 
will send you one or two, in order that I may have your opinion 
as to their purity. 
“ You are aware that I put the queen into the hive on the 4th 
July. The first time I saw her brood outside was on the 31st 
July, when I saw two of them. I was from home on the 1st 
inst., but saw some four or five on the 2nd. The 3rd and 4th 
were so dull that none could get out; but on the 5th they came 
out in great numbers for their first flight, and have been rapidly 
increasing ever since. I have no doubt but they would have 
made their appearance several days earlier if the weather had 
been warm. The month of July has been most unfavourable for 
bees here—not a few new swarms have died from starvation 
during the last three weeks. 
“ My Ligurian hive was preparing for swarming, as they had 
a young queen in her cell; but after the weather got so cold they 
destroyed her, which caused me no little regret, as I might have 
taken her out and put her into a queenless stock. 
“ As honey-gathering is over here, I have got my Ligurian 
hive placed with my others in a very suitable situation, amongst 
the heather, so that with the increase of young bees I shall have 
a good criterion of their honey-gathering qualities, if the weather 
be favourable. J. S.” 
I need hardly say that the successful result of this experiment 
has afforded much gratification to—A Devonshire Bee-keeper. 
FEEDING BEES. 
Would not crystallised sugar do as well as loaf sugar for 
making food for bees ? It is a halfpenny per pound cheaper, 
which is important to me, as I have some hundreds of pounds to 
make. My bees have no honey, and are entirely dependent on 
me ; but I suppose, by supplying them liberally, I shall be able 
to save them. Should the full quantity be given now, and how 
much ? 
The season in this county (Hampshire), has been unexampled. 
I have lost six out of twenty-nine stocks, and am now feeding 
abundantly. I have just heard of one man in the New Forest 
who had three hundred stocks, two hundred of which are dead. 
—One Cubed of Afimania. 
[Never having tried crystallised sugar as food for bees we are 
unable to pronounce on its merits. We believe that there is less 
sugar and more water in it than in common sugar. We put 
8 lbs. of water to 12 lbs. of lump sugar, and this mixture having 
been boiled a minute or two, forms nearly 20 lbs. of food, upon 
which bees will subsist very well during winter. The addition of 
a little honey renders it more acceptable. Liberal feeding will, 
probably, save your bees. Swarms should be fed up to at least 
15 lbs. nett weight in October, and stocks to 20 lbs. and upwards, 
according to age; old combs weighing much heavier than new 
ones.] 
OUR LETTER BOX. 
Detecting Sex in Brahmas.— Sometimes the cocks of a brood will show 
very young; but as a rule they are not distinguishable before they are eight 
weeks old. Even then there is sometimes difficulty in distingushing between 
a forward pullet and a backward cockerel. If they were hatched in April 
instead of July you might expect your chickens to begin laying (being well 
fed) at eighteen weeks old; but we should not advise vou to look for eggs 
from July birds before January. No weather injures this breed; but long 
cold nights, dark days, and frozen ground and water, are not favourable to 
the attainment of maturity. 
