After these Obfervations upon Bees and their Economy, it may be expected I should fay fomething concerning their Hives, and the way of managing them; both which I fhall, in due time, be very particular in, as well as endeavour to fhew the Profits that may arise from them; but I fhall only mention in this Place fome few Heads which I fhall enlarge upon hereafter; as that, firft, in regard to their Hives, they fhould be fo contriv'd, that they may open into one another, which will give the Bees room to add to their Store when a plentiful Season of Flowers happens to be attended with proper Weather for their going abroad; and likewife, that when we have a mind to take any of their Honey, we may avoid killing the Bees: The Hives I mean, are in fome refpects like the Box-hives, which are commonly made Hexangular. 2. I fhall have Occafion to treat of the Bee-house, wherein thefe Hives are to stand, of its Contrivance for Warmth in the Winter, and to prevent the Inconvenience of the Bees ftinging or annoying the Perfon who takes the Honey; and in which Place likewife we may fee them at work without disturbing them. 3. I fhall give a Lift of thofe Plants and Flowers which they chiefly gather their Wax and Honey from, and the Seafons when fuchPlants bloffom, that one may guess, by looking into their Hives, whether they may get fufficient Store for Winter, which we ought to enquire into very narrowly, left we weaken our Stock. To this Memorandum I fhall add what Things may be proper to feed them with, in S 2 cafe cafe of bad Weather in their working Seafon, that we may help them betimes; for if we find a Stock which begins to make fresh Combs at the End of Summer, we may be affur'd they are weak, and will not live the Winter through without timely Help; even though they can go abroad, they must be affifted: And upon this Topick I have engag'd a Correspondence with fome of the most curious Men in England. An An Explanation of the Figures in the Cut relating to Bees. Fig. 1. HE Queen of the Bees, according to her natural Size. THE 2. The Drone the fame. 3. The Bee the fame. 4. The Bafis of the Cell in its Horizontal Situation, that you may have the better Idea of the Form of the Egg as foon as it is laid, and in what Manner it is ufually plac'd upon the Bafis. 5. The Basis of the Cell in its vertical and natural Situation, with the Egg chang❜d into a Worm or Caterpillar, and encompaffed with a little Liqour four Days after it is hatch'd. 6. The Worm, according to its Growth eight Days after it has been hatch'd. 7. The fame Worm ten Days old, after it has alter'd its Shape and Situation. 8. The fame Worm chang'd into a young Bee that is bigger than ordinary, that is yet white and foft. 9. Part of the Honeycomb, which reprefents how the Cells are rang'd in the two oppofite fides of the Comb. 10. A Piece of a Honeycomb, representing the Cells on the Infide. 11. Several Cells whofe Sides are taken away, where we only fee the Bafes: This Fi S 3 gure |