The Life of the Bee 



[>5] 

 But the hive that we have selected is 

 disturbed in its history by no interference 

 of man ; and as the beautiful day advances 

 with radiant and tranquil steps beneath 

 the trees, its ardour, still bathed in dew, 

 makes the appointed hour seem laggard. 

 Over the whole surface of the golden cor- 

 ridors that divide the parallel walls the 

 workers are busily making preparation 

 for the journey. And each one will first 

 of all burden herself with provision of 

 honey sufficient for five or six days. From 

 this honey that they bear within them they 

 will distil, by a chemical process still unex- 

 plained, the wax required for the immediate 

 construction of buildings. They will pro- 

 vide themselves also with a certain amount 

 of propolis, a kind of resin with which they 

 will seal all the crevices In the new dwell- 

 ing, strengthen weak places, varnish the 

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