This engraving illustrates the construction of the "Ladies Observatory" hive. The stock hive cylindrical with a flat top and a hole in the centre; the dimensions 12½ inches inside, 8½ inches deep, the outer cover being raised, and is made of stout glass, so as not easily to break. A support, composed of seven wooden bars fixed on a pedestal from the floorboard, is very useful for the bees to cling to and attach their combs, instead of resting wholly against the glass. The floor-board is of mahogany, the border being French polished. A middle sized bell-glass for deprivation is placed over the hole; this hole may be closed by a zinc slide. A cover of straw, 18 inches deep, 15 inches wide, with a zinc ventilating top similar to that affixed to the No. 5 hive, completes the arrangements. The weight of the stock hive and board is about 16 lbs. This hive is well adapted for those persons who are desirous of having the opportunity of more closely examining the workmanship of these industrious and interesting insects, as the whole of the interior may be exposed to view; it is particularly suitable for a window or an indoor apiary, and also will be found a valuable addition to the green house. Under these circumstances, the entrance-way should be covered with a flat piece of glass, and an aperture cut in the sash corresponding with the entrance to the hive; through the glazed passage the bees may then find egress and ingress without being able to gain access to the apartment; an alighting board four inches wide must be fixed outside on a level with the entrance. We had a hive of this kind in operation in the Great Exhibitions of 1851 and 1862, fixed in the manner above described. It answered admirably, and excited much interest and curiosity, though placed there under many disadvantages. When a hive of this kind is to be stocked, procure an early and strong swarm, which must be temporarily hived in a common straw hive, from which dislodge the bees into the glass hive, but for this purpose a little preparation will have to be made. Spread a sheet on the ground, place the mahogany floorboard on it with the support, put three bricks, or some solid blocks of about the same substance, upon which the glass will rest; then with a sharp and sudden blow precipitate the swarm out of the straw hive on to the floorboard and support, place the glass hive on the bricks, and the bees will collect under the bars and on to the pedestal. In about one hour's time the whole will have settled quietly, and all the stragglers on the board will have collected together, the swarm hanging pear-shaped from the bar support; the bricks can now be removed, and the glass put in its right place on the floorboard. The straw cover being put on the hive, it can be removed to the place it is destined permanently to occupy.