Having now given such a description and explanation of my _collateral box-hives_, and of my _inverted-hive_, as will, by referring to the plates or cuts that accompany them, make both of those hives, and every thing pertaining to them, to be clearly understood; I proceed to explain, in the next place, my OBSERVATORY-HIVE. With the help of the subjoined representative figures or cuts, I hope to succeed in my endeavour to make the reader thoroughly acquainted with every part of it, novel, though it be, and, as far as I know, unlike any hive hitherto invented. At first sight it may probably appear to be a piece of complicate machinery, but upon examination it will be found to be otherwise--I may say--simple and easy. A little curiosity and a little patient attention are all the requisites that I entreat my apiarian friends to bring with them to the studying of this _grand hive_. I call it _grand_, not because it is my own invention, but because it is admirably adapted for advancing, and perhaps for perfecting, our knowledge of the habits and economy of Honey-Bees. With the variation of one short word, the following passage from Evans' delightful poem on Bees is so applicable to my observatory-hive that I am tempted to adopt it as a motto. By this bless'd hive our ravish'd eyes behold The singing masons build their roofs of gold; And mingling multitudes perplex the view, Yet all in order apt their tasks pursue; Still happier they, whose favour'd ken hath seen Pace slow and silent round, the state's fair Queen. [Illustration]