COMB-MAKING. 227 



substance, as being chiefly applied outwardly and to the out- 

 works of their waxen structures, is called Propolis, from Greek 

 words signifying " before the city." It consists of a brown 

 resin, which was supposed long ago to be the collection of bees 

 from trees producing gums of the same description, a conjec- 

 ture since confirmed, Huber having seen them strip the resin 

 from off buds of the wild poplar and branches placed in their 

 way ; while Kirby observed them busy, for a like purpose, on 

 the balsamic buds of the Tacamahaca. 



In collection of propolis, as in that of pollen, the bee's thigh 

 panniers are in high requisition ; but, to avoid their being be- 

 gummed, as well as beladen with this sticky resin, our little 

 gatherer has to knead and render it less adhesive, before she 

 transfers it from her fore feet to the convenient corbeilles 

 appended to her hinder limbs. 



With this vegetable gum the honey-combs, heretofore pure 

 white, are varnished, and their edges strengthened and secured. 

 It is with propolis also that all accidental holes and interstices 

 are filled up. 



Subsequent on the brief mention, as above, of the materials 

 employed by bee architects, should follow, properly, a descrip- 

 tion of the way in which they are accustomed to work them 

 up. We have never, ourselves, had an opportunity of fol- 

 lowing any of their wondrous operations as carried on within 

 the hive, which, by the way, would seem by no means an easy 

 matter, even when that hive is made of glass. We might 

 easily, however, copy, in an abbreviated form, some at least of 

 the relations given of their proceedings by Reaumur, the inde- 

 fatigable Huber, and other bee historians ; but these, shorn of 

 their detail, would proportionately lose in interest. 



Since, therefore, our account of bee workmanship cannot 

 (consistently with our limits) be long enough to entertain, we 

 shall make it so very short, as at all events not to weary. We 

 would wish it, on the contrary, to stimulate, to serve just as an 

 incitement to the abundant but not cloying sweets of Huber's 



