94 INSECT ARCHITECTURE. 



polls within the cells, were easily distinguished from the 

 multitude of Avorkers, by the direction of their heads to- 

 wards the horizontal pane forming the roof of the hive, and 

 on reaching it, they deposited their burthen nearly in the 

 middle of intervals separating the combs : then they con- 

 veyed the propolis to the real place of its destination. 

 They suspended themselves by the claws of the hind legs 

 to points of support, afforded by the viscosity of the pro- 

 polis on the glass ; and, as it were, swinging themselves 

 backwards and forwards, brought the heap of this substance 

 nearer to the cells at each impulse. Here the bees employed 

 their fore feet, which remained free, to sweep what the 

 teeth had detaclied, and to unite the fragments scattered 

 over the glass, which recovered all its transparency when 

 the whole propolis was brought to the vicinity of the cells. 

 " After some of the bees had smoothed down and cleaned 

 out the glazed cells, feeling the way with their antennae, 

 one desisted, and having approached a heap of propolis, 

 drew out a thread with its teeth. This being broken oft', 

 it was taken in the claws of the fore feet, and the bee, re- 

 entering the cell, immediately placed it in the angle of two 

 portions that had been smoothed, in which operation the 

 fore feet and teeth were used alternately; but probably 

 proving too clumsy, the thread was reduced and polished ; 

 and we admired the accuracy with which it was adjusted 

 when the work was completed. The insect did not stop 

 here : returning to the cell, it prepared other parts of it to 

 receive a second thread, for which we did not doubt that 

 the heap would be resorted to. Contrary to our expecta- 

 tion, however, it availed itself of the portion of the thread 

 cut off on the former occasion, arranged it in the appointed 

 place, and gave it all the solidity and finish of which it 

 was susceptible. Other bees concluded the work which 

 the first had begun : and the sides of the cells were speedily 

 secured with threads of propolis, while some were also put 

 on the orifices ; but we could not seize the moment when 

 they were varnished, though it may be easily conceived 

 how it is done."* 



*' Hubcr on Bees, p. 408. 



