66 JBEES. 



them is always left, that the Bees may have 

 a free passage, and an easy communication 

 with the different combs in the hive. These 

 streets are just wide enough to allow two 

 Bees to pass one another. Beside these 

 parallel streets, to shorten the journey when 

 working, they leave several cross passages, 

 which are always covered. 



They are extremely solicitous to prevent 

 insects of any kind from getting admittance 

 into their hives. To accomplish this pur- 

 pose, and in order to shut out the cold, when 

 they take possession of a new hive, they 

 carefully examine every part of it ; and if 

 they, discover any small holes or chinks, they 

 immediately paste them up firmly with a 

 resinous substance which differs considerably 

 from wax. This substance was known to 

 the ancients by the name of propolis or Bee- 

 glue. Bees use the propolis for rendering 

 their hives more close and perfect, in prefer- 

 ence to wax, because it is more durable, and 

 more powerfully resists the vicissitudes of the 

 weather. This glue is not, like the wax, 

 procured by an animal process. The Bees 

 collect it from different trees, as the poplars, 



