78 UTILIZATION OF MINUTE LIFE. 



by Thorley in 1744, and afterwards by Huber, who 

 described the organs, situated on each side of the 

 abdomen, which secrete the wax in the shape of 

 thin plates. 



Honey, on the contrary, consists of the sugar 

 which is taken directly from the nectaries of the 

 flowers. It is lapped up from these curious parts 

 of the flower by the tongue of the bee, and trans- 

 mitted into the first stomach or honey-bag of the 

 insect. It is never found in any other part of the 

 bee's body. When the insect is laden it returns to 

 the hive, and disgorges the honey into cells which 

 are destined to receive it. 



Plants which are peculiarly adapted to the bee 

 are species of Echium, Borago, Verbascum, Thymus, 

 and the Crucifera. In some countries bees attach 

 themselves to particular plants ; for instance, in the 

 Highlands of Scotland and in Sweden, to the Erica, 

 or heath-plant ; in Scania, to the buckwheat ; in 

 Poland, to the lime-tree; in Narbonne, to rose- 

 mary ; in Greece, to thyme ; in Corsica, to the 

 arbutus ; in Sardinia, to the Artemisia, etc. j and 

 hence arises the different flavours and qualities of 

 honey in the several European markets. Other 

 plants appear to be avoided by bees : thus the 

 poisonous nectar of the oleander, which proves 

 fatal to thousands of flies, will not be touched by 

 the bee. But a few cases are on record of bees 



