It has been suggested to me by some ingenious friends--that a couple of magnifying glasses set in the doors, and some mechanical contrivance to open a part of the roof by simply pulling a cord, and to throw a proper light upon the four wings of the hive, would be a great improvement; because, by these means, or by some such means as these, the opening and shutting of the doors would be rendered unnecessary,--and, because the Bees and their curious works would be more interesting by being viewed through magnifying glasses,--and because the exterior appearance of the whole concern would be more handsome. Without the slightest hesitation I admit--that, to those persons to whom expense is no object, the mode of examining the observatory-hive would be improved by some such arrangements as those just mentioned; but _the hive itself would not be improved in the least_,--it would remain just as it was before these costly additions, whether ornamental, or useful, or both, were made to its covering only--_not to the hive_. The following cut will, in some degree, represent and tacitly explain an observatory-hive, fitted up in this way. [Illustration] THE MODE OF STOCKING AN OBSERVATORY-HIVE. This operation may be performed in various ways, and almost at any time during the summer months, by an experienced apiarian. I will content myself with describing _how_ it may be done most easily, if not most scientifically, by any person possessed of courage enough to operate at all among Bees. It is as follows: When your Bees swarm from a cottage-hive, take it (the swarm) into a common hive in the usual way 7 place it in a cool, shaded situation, and let it remain there until the evening; and even then attempt no further operation, unless the Bees be all settled and quite still. When they are all within their hive, peaceable, and retired, as it were, for the night, you may suddenly strike them from their hive upon a clean, white sheet, spread over a table prepared and ready for the purpose, and within the space occupied, or rather--enclosed, by four bricks placed edgewise. Upon these bricks place your glass-hive as expeditiously as possible with its entrance just over the Bees. Then envelope your hive with a cloth so as to darken its interior, and, lastly, throw the corners of the sheet over the whole. This done, the Bees will presently ascend into the wings of the hive. When they are all safely lodged in it, you may carefully remove the sheet and the other coverings; and, having securely made up the entrance into the winter-pavilion, then place the stocked hive upon its pedestal, and the Bees will be ready to commence their labour the next day.