376 PROPOLIS. 



hives. From its being used for the firm attach- 

 ment of combs to the roofs of hives, it must be 

 the first matter collected by a recent swarm. The 

 term Propolis is derived from the Greek, and 

 signifies ' before the city,' bees having been ob- 

 served to make use of it, in strengthening the 

 outworks of their city. 



Reaumur was unable to discover its vegetable 

 source. It is generally supposed to be gathered 

 from the resinous exudations of the poplar, alder, 

 birch, and willow ; according to Riem, from pines 

 and other trees of the fir tribe ; though some au- 

 thors have alleged that bees can produce it where 

 no such trees are near them, and that turpentine 

 and other resins have been disregarded when 

 laid before them. A recent experiment of Huber 

 has solved this question : he planted in spring 

 some branches of the wild poplar, before the 

 leaves were developed, and placed them in pots 

 near his apiary : the bees alighting on them sepa- 

 rated the folds of the largest buds with their for- 

 ceps, extracted the varnish in threads, and loaded 

 with it, first one thigh and then the other ; for 

 they convey it like pollen, transferring it by the 

 first pair of legs to the second, by which it is lodged 

 in the hollow of the third. Huber examined the 

 chemical properties of this varnish, and identified 

 it with the propolis which fastens the combs to 

 the hives. 



