
4. Showing shutters thrown open 
up and down. The top consists of two 
small trap-doors (or windows) made on 
the same principal as window-sash, 
and each trap-door is fitted with a 
2-in. by 2-in. glass erystal (light of 
glass). The trap-doors are fastened 
to the bee-box by means of small 
hinges. 
New see Photograph 1 and note 
how the bee-box is constructed. 
This particular model, made in ac- 
cordance with the above dimensions, 
is also one of my own designs, 
having trap-doors that open 
outward instead of inward, and 
having raised ends which sup- 
port the trap-doors when open. 
The trap-doors: opening out- 
ward make catching a bee a 
much easier operation and the 
raised ends reduce lost motion 
to the minimum. 
Before the prospective bee 
hunter can embark in this in- 
teresting pastime, it is essential 
that he be able to distinguish 
the honey-bee from among the many 
other kinds of bees gathering from the 
same flowers. There are, also, many 
races of the honey-bee (Apis Melli- 
fica), and to give a detailed description 
of each would be a task much too 
“bulky” for, and entirely unsuited to, 
an article of this size. However, for 
a description of each race of honey-bee 
the reader is referred to my complete 
work on bee hunting, soon to be pub- 
lished. 
I will now describe the honey-bee as: 
A wasp-like insect, usually from %-in. 
Page 467 
5. Shading the eyes 
to %-in. in length and with a spread 
of wings of about % of an inch. The 
abdomen is usually black with from 
one to four yellow bands (stripes) 
around its upper part. The descrip- 
tion here given has reference to the 
“Hybrid” bee, which is the predominat- 
ing “race,” so-called, of American wild 
honey-bee. The honey-bee is agile and 
quick in all its movements, and, to the 
inexperienced eye, of a seemingly ner- 
vous temperament. The hum of its 
wings when flying from flower to 
TIONAL 
If fishing proves poor or hiking tiresome, 
why not try bee-hunting on your vacation? 
It is an interesting pastime, and this article 
gives you all the information you will need 
for the successful pursuit of the “game.” 
HIDITUVUTEUUEUU TUE TTT 
flower is of a mellow, high pitch, dis- 
tinectly different from that of either 
small, medium or large bumble-bees. 
REGARDLESS of race, all honey- 
bees “line” before flying to their 
hive, and it is the workers only, of any 
race, who gather the nectar, pollen, etc. 
The act of catching a bee, feeding her 
with syrup and then watching her in 
flight so as to determine the direction 
in which her hive lies, is called, in bee- 
hunting, “Starting the line.” It mat- 
ters little in what manner the bee is 
6. An ideal bee tree 
caught, so long as she may be retained, 
when caught, for a sufficient length of 
time and with ample space around her 
to permit of her being fed with syrup; 
so that she may “load up” preparatory 
to her flight in a straight line to her 
hive. 
The bee-box method of catching is, 
in reality, the best method, especially 
for the novice. But before the bee 
hunter should start his “line,” he 
should pay strict attention to the fol- 
lowing: One chamber of the bee-box 
should be fitted up with a piece 
of honey-comb and the honey- 
comb filled with syrup. The 
syrup is made by dissolving one 
part white sugar in two parts 
water. Never use brown or 
burnt sugar. The water used 
should be clean and pure. Cold 
water is best, even though the 
sugar takes a little longer to 
dissolve in it. If honey-comb 
cannot be obtained, any tin-box 
cover that will fit the chamber 
of the bee-box will answer the 
purpose fully as well. The tin cover 
should be filled with either crumpled 
blossoms, or green leaves, before the 
syrup is poured in, so that some of it 
will be absorbed. If this is not done 
the excessive amount of syrup in the 
tin cover will “daub” the bee, thereby 
rendering her unable to fly. 
HOWEVER, assuming that the 
above requirements have been 
complied with, the bee-box is now 
ready to receive the bee; and the 
(Continued on page 503) 
