RECORD: Darwin, C. R. n.d. Abstract of 'Miner's American bee-keepers' manual'. CUL-DAR48.B20. Edited by John van Wyhe (Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/).
REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed and edited by Kees Rookmaaker, textual notes by John van Wyhe 12.2010. Corrections by Christine Chua 9.2021. RN2
NOTE: See record in the Darwin Online manuscript catalogue, enter its Identifier here. Written in brown ink on blue grey paper, verso blank.
Reproduced with the permission of the Syndics of Cambridge University Library and William Huxley Darwin. The volume CUL-DAR48 contains notes for Natural selection chap. 8 'Transitions of Organs'. Notes on bees' cells for origin of species theory.
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Miner's American bee-keepers' manual 18491
p. 102 says he has often observed first rudiment of comb, up to every step of completion, & could not provide "the slightest difference in construction & colour could I ever discover." — He cd hardly have overlooked the rounded external edges & wall of wax of Hives. p 321 The more populous a swarm of Bees less liable to be destroyed "being able by mere force of numbers to prevent a lodgment being made" & here lies the general secret of success." — which shows importance of increase in numbers & therefore loss from wax being necessary.
1 Miner, T. B. 1849. American bee-keepers' manual: being a treatise on the history and domestic economy of the honey-bee embracing a full illustration of the whole subject, with the most approved methods of managing this insect through every branch of its culture, the result of many years' experience. New York: C. M.Saxton.
Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
File last updated 5 December, 2022