>I tried a stethoscope an RN friend gave, me, probably a cheap >throwaway... Yes, the Littman stethoscope has a raised rubber ring around the diaphragm which provides a good seal against any wall, be it chest or hive. There are some types of 'scopes that are even more sensitive than that, such as dopplers, but I haven't needed to go that far. The baby monitor idea is interesting and would probably work, so you may be able to pick up some of their more interesting commentaries....So far, all I've heard lately are things like: "Oops," or 'excuse me" or "pardon my wing". Life in the cluster must get rather tense by March........ Joanne Hulbert Holliston MA [log in to unmask]