THE APIAEY. 329 



color of pollen throngliout, are never filled quite to the top, and not infrequently 

 the same cell may contain both pollen ancl honey. Such a condition is easily 

 ascertained by holding the comb between the eye and sun. If there is no pollen 

 it vrill be wholly translucent ; otherwise there will be opaque patches. A little 

 experience will make this determination easy, even if the comb is old. It is 

 often stated that queenless colonies gather no pollen, but this is not true, though 

 very likely they gather less than they otherwise would. It is probable that pol- 

 len, at least when honey is added, contains all the essential elements of animal 

 food. It certainly contains the very important principle, which is not found in 

 honey : nitrogenous material. 



The function of bee-bread is to help furnish the brood with proper food. In 

 fact, brood-rearing would be impossible without it. And though it is certainly 

 not essential in the nourishment of the bees themselves, it still may be so in 

 time of wax secretion. 



PROPOLIS. 



This substance, also called bee-glue, is collected, not made nor secreted. It 

 is the product of various resinous buds, and may be seen to glisten on the open- 

 ing buds of the hickory and horse-chestnut, where it frequently serves the ento- 

 mologist by capturing small insects. From such sources, from the oozing gum 

 of various trees, from varnished furniture, and from remaining propolis about 

 unused hives, that have previously seen service, do the bees secure their glue. 

 This substance has great adhesive force, and though soft and pliable when 

 warm, it becomes very hard and unyielding when cold. 



The use of this substance is to cement, to fill up all rough places inside the 

 hive, to seal up all crevices except the place of exit, and even to cover any for-' 

 eign substance that cannot be removed. Intruding snails have thus been im- 

 prisoned inside the hive. 



CHAPTER VI. 

 THE RACES OF BEES. 



There are three races or breeds of the species Apis mellifica, viz. : The Egyp- 

 tian, German or black, and the Italian or Ligurian. 



As the Egyptian bee is not kept either in Europe or our own country, and as 

 I have no authentic description of its habits or character, I will only dwell on 

 the other races. 



GERMAN BEES. 



These are the common bees of Europe, and were those first imported to our 

 country, and so became common here. The queen and drones are of a deep 

 black hue, while the neuters are more obscure, tliough still black, with a very 

 slight grayish cast. As these are so well known, I will not stop to consider their 

 habits, but wait and contrast them in this respect with the Italians. 



ITALIAK BEES. 



These bees take their name from the fact that they were first discovered in 

 the mountain basin of northern Italy and Switzerland, shut in, as it were, by 



42 



