320 THE INSECT WOKLD. 



disorder and confusion at the approaches to the hive, but this 

 tumult is only so in appearance ; an admirable order presides over 

 this emulation in their work, which is the distinctive feature in 

 bees."* A very simple calculation may serve to give us an idea of 

 this prodigious activity. The opening of a well-stocked hive gives 

 passage to one hundred bees a minute, which makes, from five 

 o'clock in the morning till seven o'clock in the evening, eighty 

 thousand re-entrances, or four excursions for each bee, supposing 

 there is a population of twenty thousand workers. 



Let us now follow their occupations from the moment in which 

 they establish themselves in a hive. The workers begin by 

 stopping up all the openings except one door, which is always to 

 remain open. A certain number set out to look for a resinous and 

 sweet-scented substance known under the name of propolis, which 

 is destined to cover the inner surface of the hive, as its name 

 shows, which is derived from a Greek word signifying out- skirts 

 or suburb. Huber asserts that it is gathered from the buds 

 of plants. This substance has not yet been employed in the arts, 

 although it possesses the same qualities as wax, as M. de Frariere 

 remarks in his work on Bees and Bee-keeping. f The propolis is 

 employed in Italy for making blisters. This gum is viscous and 

 very adherent. The bee works it up into balls, and carries it, 

 in this form, to the hive, where other labourers take possession 

 of it. They seize the pellet with their mandibles, and apply 

 it to cracks which they have to make air-tight. They use 

 the propolis for another purpose still, which deserves to be men- 

 tioned. 



It happens sometimes that an enemy penetrates into their 

 hive, and that the bees are not strong enough to cast this in- 

 truder out of their dwelling. What do they do ? As soon as 

 they have discovered the invasion of their domicile, they set 

 upon the impudent intruder, and sting him to death. But 

 how can they drag out the dead body, which is often very heavy ? 

 Such, for instance, as a slug. On the other hand, it would be 

 dangerous to abandon its carcass in the midst of the hive. 

 A Roman Emperor said that the dead bodies of our enemies 



* L' Intelligence des Betes. In 18mo. Paris, 1864. 



f Sur les Abeilles et 1' Apiculture. In 18mo. 2 e edition. Paris. 



