THE HONEY-BEE 45 



cell-covers of the worker and drone brood-cells 

 are convex, and are easily distinguished from 

 the flat caps of the honey-cells. 



One of the constant cares of the ever-busy bee 

 is that of keeping the comb in repair, and con- 

 stant reparation is needed. Another duty is to 

 keep it clean. As soon as a cell is empty, it is 

 " swept and garnished." Dust, fungi, dead bees, 

 old remains of food, the dejecta of the queen and 

 of the drones, are all removed by the workers. 

 In fact, these indefatigable spinsters enjoy, as 

 they deserve to do, a perpetual spring-cleaning, 

 so dear to the female heart. 



One other substance besides honey and pollen 

 is brought by the workers into the hive, and that 

 is the gummy, sticky exudation of certain trees 

 for instance, that of the horse-chestnut buds. 

 This propolis, as it is called, is never stored in 

 cells. It is used to stop crannies in the hive 

 and so prevent draughts ; sometimes it is plas- 

 tered nearly all over the inner wall, and at other 

 times invading snails or moths, or even mice, 

 which are too big for the bees to remove, find a 

 sticky sepulture entombed in propolis within the 

 hive : 



