Observation Super.-A regular Danzenbaker super with thirty-two four-by-five sections is the third story of the hive. This is supplied with observation sides, which give clear exposure from the top to the bottom of the outer sections.

Removable Hives.- Above this are two traveling hives for temporary exhibition. Bees are let into this by slot and escape device (as is done with each half of the observation chamber), so that bees may be carried from place to place or be used for class exhibition, or for nuclei experiments, and without the slightest danger of loss or injury either to the insects or to the apiarist, both have the regular mouth opening for use as a single isolated hive. Many experiments that can not be made in the divided observation-chamber can be performed in these removable hives.

Magnifying Feeder. -This is on the end opposite the mouth of the main hive, and is so arranged that the observer, looking through a powerful lens, faces the window at which the whole hive is located. The top and back of this feeder are of glass. Diluted honey or simple syrup is put in small quantities in a trough one-eighth of an inch wide. Bees stand on a elevated glass shelf, and each one takes the sweets from the narrow space between the two glasses, as it takes the nectar from the flower. Collectively they have the appearance of "feeding at the trough like little pigs."

Manner Of Setting Before A Window, With Sash Raised And Entrance Cut In Temporary Bar

The powerful lens slides back and forth so as to give a view of any portion of this trough, wherever "the best feeding" is in progress. The lens is set one-eight out of center from top to bottom, so that, by turning the supporting-block, a range of adjustment of one-fourth of an inch up or down is given. A delicate focusing adjustment is provided by a screw with a range of three-fourths of an inch. This lens shows the heads and proboscides of the feeding bees in a wonderfully interesting manner.

The bottom of the feeder is provided with slot and slide as an escape device, previously described, and the whole is easily taken from the hive by the slides and earned to a window for closer observation, or it may be passed around to members of a class or to visitors.

Artificial Feeding.-Between this magnifying feeder and the end of the hive which has the mouth opening there are two jar feeders with perforated caps. These are so arranged that one is over each half of the observation chamber. The hive is also provided with a Doolittle division-board feeder that may be placed in the main hive, in either observation chamber, or in the one or two removable hives. From these last the cover may be taken off and the feeder put in without the escape of bees, provided the sliding cover is previously pushed in half way, so that the portable hive is cleared through the Porter escape.

Flying Cage and Observation Box Hive. - This attachment, like the magnifying-feeder, is not supplied regularly with the hive, but is regarded as an extra. It will be found very serviceable in a variety of experiments. Three sides are of glass. The other has non-rustible wire netting. This netting is placed next to the main hive in place of the tube entrance. A long slot through the lower part of the frame matches the mouth opening of the main hive. The purpose of this flying cage is to provide a place in which the bees may fly when the hive is set up in a room away from a window for observation, instruction, or exhibition. This will be found very serviceable for use at fairs, and for temporary exhibition in schools, also for advertising purposes, and when placed with the entire hive in the show-window of a store.

This cage is hive-size, and takes on the top the regular cover, the feeding-board, with the main hive or supers. At the upper and lower portions are places for feeding. The inside of the hive is regularly fitted with supports for regular frames, or for rustic sticks. In this manner it may be used in imitation of the original bee-trees, the whole being covered with paper, cloth, or other material for making the interior dark. When this covering is removed, the entire inside of the bee-tree with rustic cross-sticks may be readily seen.

When the cage is not thus used in connection with the main hive it is turned around so as to face in the same direction as the other hive, and both are then side by side at the window, with two tube entrances as two separate hives. A large baseboard is provided for the hives when used in combination. This cage is so designed that it may readily serve many other natural-history purposes. It is unexcelled in convenience as a transforming-cage for lepidoptera or for aquatic insects. For the last-mentioned purpose bowls or dishes of water to hold the aquatic specimens are placed in the lower section.

When used as a larval feeding-cage, pots 13 of earth with growing plants, or broken, branches placed in bottles of water which are set in the earth in the pots, may be placed in the lower section.

The main hive is fitted with the Danzenbaker entrance-stops. The bottom-board is clamped to the main hive by the Van Deusen hive-clamp.

The alignting-boards of the tube entrances take Alley's queen and drone trap, bee-guards, etc. It is recommended that the Root queen-rearing outfit be purchased in connection with the hive.

Another very useful accessory is an observation lens five inches in diameter. This lens, and also that of the magnifying-feeder, are made by The Bausch & Lomb Optical Company, of Rochester, N. Y., and are of the highest type of efficiency and workmanship.

With the complete hive, the magnifying-feeder, the flying-cage, and observation box hive, the Root queen-rearing outfit and the observation lens, facilities are afforded for every phase of apiarian observation, experiment, instruction, pleasure, or exhibition. At last we have an observation hive worthy the subject. The optical parts are by one of the most famous and extensive manufacturers of lenses in the world. The woodwork and bee-appliances are by the largest manufacturing establishment of apiarian apparatus.

I have not tried to produce a cheap or simple hive, but rather one which the bees and their friends have long merited. I am confident that all concerned will be pleased.

Contrary to the advice of many friends who have known of my prolonged study and work on this hive, I have refused to take out a patent. On the contrary, I have arranged with the manufacturers to have the hive and all its accessories placed on the market at the cost of production. Considering the detail and workmanship, I regard the price as barely covering cost of labor and materials. I am confident that the hive-manufacturers must look for profit to the sale of their regular goods to the new converts which I am sure this hive will bring to the fascinating field of apiculture.

Profit and the spirit of commercialism in nowise enter into the production of this hive. I have regarded the labor spent upon it as a labor of love. To my fellow-students and lovers of nature I cordially bestow and heartily commend "The Bigelow Educational Hive." May the study of these wonderful insects afford you as much pleasure and instruction as they have afforded me.

Stamford, Ct.