204 WAX-WORKERS. 



ihat certain bees, larger than the other workers, are endowed 

 with capabilities for secreting it on a much larger scale, a 

 fact which led him to divide the labours of the hive into two 

 distinct classes, to which he gave the names of "Wax- workers," 

 and "Nurses," -the employ of the former being chiefly to found 

 the cells and provision the hive, while the cares of the latter 

 are devoted more especially to the feeding and tending of the 

 young, and to the completion of the combs when substantially 

 founded by their stronger and better provided comrades. 

 Herein has existed, from time immemorial, an insect pattern, 

 which only civilised man has learnt to copy, of labour's best 

 lightener and assistant its division. 



In addition to pollen and honey, with wax hence derived, 

 bees are accustomed to levy, from the vegetable world, another 

 contribution employed in their works of architecture. This 

 substance, as being chiefly applied outwardly and to the out- 

 works of their waxen structures, is called Propolis, from Greek 

 words signifying "before the city." It consists of a brown 

 resin, which was supposed long ago to be the collection of bees 

 from trees producing gums of the same description, a con- 

 jecture since confirmed, Huber having seen them strip the 

 resin from off buds of the wild poplar and branches placed in 

 their way ; while Kirby observed them busy, for a like purpose, 

 on the balsamic buds of the Tacamahaca. 



In collection of propolis, as in that of pollen, the bee's thigh 

 panniers are in high requisition ; but, to avoid their being be- 



