Bees and Bee-Hives.--In the North-East Gallery, directly under the Transept, are arranged, by Messrs. Neighbour, of Holborn, several descriptions of bee-hives, which it will be interesting to many of our readers to examine, as this branch of rural economy is claiming much general and deserved attention throughout the country. The novelty of these hives consists in the facilities that are afforded in taking therefrom, at any time of the gathering season, the purest honey, without destroying or even injuring the bees, thus humanely superseding the barbarous and hateful system of murdering these interesting insects to obtain the produce of their industry. Immediately adjoining the group of untenanted bee-hives may be observed living hives with the bees most industriously at work. These useful little creatures have been highly honoured by the Executive Committee, for of all the animal workers that contribute to the interest of the Exhibition, they alone are allowed therein to display their matchless ingenuity and skill. By a simple contrivance, the bees are allowed egress and ingress without in the least degree molesting the visitors, thus enabling the admirers of the works of nature to view the whole process of forming the cells and depositing the honey therein. Within these few days, Messrs. Neighbour have added to the Apiary a bee-hive constructed entirely of glass, protected by a cover neatly made of straw, but so contrived that on application to the attendant it can be removed instantly, thus illustrating more particularly the curious workmanship of these amusing insects. Her Majesty the Queen and the Prince Consort, with the Royal Children, were some time engaged in watching with deep interest the busy scene before them, and putting many questions relating to the habits and economy of the honey-bee. * * * * * INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION, 1862. _From the "Illustrated London News," August 16, 1862._ One of the most interesting and instructive objects in the Exhibition is a transparent hive, in which the bees may be seen at full work. Among the collection of bee-hives exhibited by Messrs. Neighbour and Son, is one of glass, stocked with a colony of Italian Alp bees. Here the queen-bee may be seen surrounded by her subjects, which pay the most deferential attention to their sovereign. Through an aperture cut in the wall, the busy throng of bees are continually passing and repassing. They go out at their pleasure into the open court, fly over the annexe into the grounds of the Horticultural Society and other adjacent gardens, and return laden with sweets. _From the "Journal of Horticulture," October 21, 1862._