204 WAX-WORKERS. 



that certain bees, larger than the other workers, are endowed 

 with capabilities for secreting it on a much larger scale, a 

 fact which led him to divide the labours of the hive into two 

 distinct classes, to which he gave the names of " Wax- work- 

 ers," and " Nurses," the employ of the former being chiefly 

 to found the cells and provision the hive, while the cares of 

 the latter are devoted more especially to the feeding and tend- 

 ing of the young, and to the completion of the combs when 

 substantially founded by their stronger and better provided 

 comrades. Herein has existed, from time immemorial, an in- 

 sect pattern, which only civilised man has learnt to copy, of 

 labour's best lightener and assistant its division. 



In addition to pollen and honey, with wax hence derived, 

 bees are accustomed to levy, from the vegetable world, another 

 contribution employed in their works of architecture. This 

 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 

 conjecture 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- 



