120 THE CHRISTIAN NATURALIST. 



than it is attacked on all sides, and stung to death. 

 But how are the Bees to carry out so heavy a burden ? 

 Such a labour would be impossible. In order therefore 

 to prevent such a noxious smell that would arise from 

 its putrefaction, they immediately embalm it, by covering 

 every part of the body with this propolis, or glue, 

 through which no effluvia can escape. When a snail 

 gets entrance into a hive, the disposal of it gives much 

 less trouble to the Bees. As soon as it receives the 

 first wound from a sting, it naturally retires within its 

 shell. In this case, the Bees, instead of pasting it all 

 over with this cement, content themselves with gluing 

 all round the margin of the shell, which is sufficiently 

 to render the animal immoveably fixed. 



To enable them to collect this substance, and the 

 farina of flowers, and to transport these burdens to their 

 hives, nothing can be more curiously formed than the 

 apparatus of limbs which has been provided for this 

 purpose by the Creator. The middle portion of the 

 hind legs is actually formed into a sort of a triangular 

 basket by the aid of a margin of strong and thickly set 

 bristles, which thus secure whatever is placed within 

 them from falling out. Wonderful as this may appear, 

 our wonder is increased if we follow the Bee to its re- 



