session they kept all others at bay (English Syrians and Syrian hybrids) they never attempted to take the offensive. About the middle of October I gave a fourth frame, and went on feeding. November 1st I examined again to be sure they were safe, and found two frames quite full of brood, and a third half full. I never felt more surprised in my life, and the bees were so numerous that in a week's time they would be 'hugging" out. I gave them a fifth frame half full of comb, which contained about 1 lb. of Heather honey, and I inverted four 3 lb. bottles of syrup on top of the frames. They took in all about 16 lbs. I examined them on the 2d, and found lots of sealed brood, about equal to 2 lbs. of bees, apparently plenty of food at last, the frame I gave on the first fully filled with comb to the bottom, and at least 5 lbs. of bees in the wing state. Had I had another comb I should have let them have it. I have not opened the hive since. Before this I was very much struck with their ability to bring in pollen on days when no other bees would stir out. On November 1st they were bringing it in as if apples were in bloom, and in pollen stores at least they kept themselves very well supplied. At the beginning of December we had a sharp frost; on the 5th it raised in the morning and froze as it fell, everything being covered with ice; at noon I just walked round the apiary, the mercury was standing at exactly 32o, and though it was not raining, it looked like it, no sun to be discerned. Of course I never expected to see any live bees about, but a Tunisian came out, marched around the flight board, then took wing, flew round almost out of sight, turned, came back, and marched into the hive. This surprised me, but being cold and hungry, and dinner likely to be ready, I left them. Since very cold weather set in, and knowing there must be very many young bees that have never had a fly, I watched them very closely. They seem to be slightly dysinetric, but if the sun is out, and the mercury is not lower than 3o, they can take a cleansing flight and safely reach their hive again, even if the ground is covered with glittering snow, nor do they seem to fly into it like our native bees do, so that now I have great hopes of having them strong in the spring. Their apparent hardness has not only surprised, but favorably impressed me. Coming from a tropical region I certainly did not expect it--I thought they would be more tender than even the Palestine bees--I should judge that unlike most bees they have always been wild, inhabiting rocks in the mountains exposed to all kinds of weather, and only those capable of being able to stand the cold and wet seasons have survived. The Arabs are not much inclined to follow any peaceful occupation, therefore they may get all their honey from the rocks. Mr. Benton might give us some information I think. He has given some, the principle being that they are the blackest bees known, and that he thinks they reached Tunis from Greece. I am inclined to doubt this. I would much prefer thinking they may be the original type of our native bees ; in fact, of all the black or brown bees. Anyhow they promise to be very valuable for this climate. I certainly never saw or heard of a wineglassful of bees in July getting strong enough to winter before. The bees are ebony black, mind their own business, and only need a slight smell of carbonic acid to quiet them. Queens are very small, and whether the bees are longer lived than others, or being so much more hardy and less liable to be chilled before getting back to hives or not, the quantity of brood was very small in comparison to the bees. If this is a fixed trait, then we may expect more honey, as more fielders and less nurses comparatively will be in each hive.--_A. Hallamshire Bee-Keeper._