PROPOLIS. 77 



threads, loaded it on their thighs, as they do pollen, 

 and carried it to their hives. In the spring one may 

 often notice a loud humming round the foliage of 

 deodars, firs, and other coniferae ; and some wonder 

 may, at first, be felt as to what the busy insects can 

 want from such absolutely honeyless trees. When 

 we remember the turpentinous exudations which are 

 so abundant in these cone-bearers, all difficulty dis- 

 appears. It is for supplies of propolis the workers 

 are searching. Evans says on this subject : 



" With merry hum the willow's copse they scale, 

 The fir's dark pyramid, or poplar pale ; 

 Scoop from the alder's leaf its oozy flood, 

 Or strip the chestnut's resin -coated bud, 

 Skim the light tear that tips Narcissus' ray, 

 Or round the hollyhock's hoar fragrance play." 



It is most probable that, with the resinous sub- 

 stances collected from trees, they knead up a certain 

 proportion of wax, to increase the tenacity. The 

 resulting product is one of extraordinarily glutinous 

 quality. With it the bees stop every chink and crack 

 and cranny in their abodes. With it they stick down 

 skeps to floor-boards, fasten, if they can, frames to 

 the top of bar-hives, firmly fix the combs to their 

 points of attachment, strengthen weak places in their 

 dwellings, and, in some cases, where glass has been 

 inserted in the walls of hives for observation pur- 

 poses, the panes are found completely coated with 

 propolis, so as to exclude the light. 



In colour, this cement is greenish yellow, darkening 

 with age to brown. Its odour is balsamic and some- 

 what powerful, resembling that of storax. It was 

 formerly supposed to possess medicinal properties, 



