184- PEUFECT SOCIETIES OF INSECTS. 



from Cordus, that it is collected from the gems of trees, 

 instancing the poplar and the birch". Riem observes 

 that it is also collected from the pine and fir. The pro- 

 polis is soft, red, will pull out in a thread, is aromatic, 

 and imparts a gold colour to white polished metals. It 

 is employed in the hive not only in finishing the combs, 

 as I related in my letter on Habitations''; but also in 

 stopping every chink or orifice by which cold, wet, or 

 any enemy, can enter. They cover likewise with it the 

 sticks which support the combs, and often spread it over 

 a considerable portion of the interior of the hive. Like 

 the pellets of pollen, it is carried on the posterior tibiae, 

 but the masses are lenticular*^. 



Mr. Knight mentions an instance of bees usinff an 

 artificial 'kind of propolis. He had caused the decorti- 

 cated part of some tree to be covered with a cement 

 composed of bees-wax and turpentine : finding this to 

 their purpose, they attacked it, detaching it from the 

 tree by their mandibles, and then, as usual, passing it 

 from the first leg to the second, and so to the third. When 

 one bee had thus collected its load, another often came 

 behind and despoiled it of all it had collected ; a second 

 and third load were frequently lost in the same manner; 

 and yet the patient animal pursued its labours without 

 showing any signs of anger '^. 



Bees in their excursions do not confine themselves to 

 the spot immediately contiguous to their dwelling, but, 

 when led by the scent of honey, will go a mile from it. 

 Huber even assigns to them a radius of half a league 



' Insect. Theatr. 36. Schirach, 241. 



'' Vol. I. 496. ' Rcauni. uhi snpr. 437 — 



" r/ii/os. Tram. 1807,34-2. 



