THE HIVE BEE. 393 



repairs to the hive. Two of its companions instantly 

 draw out the propolis, and apply it to fill up such 

 chinks, holes, or other deficiences as they find in 

 their habitation. But this is not the only use to 

 which bees apply the propolis. They are extremely 

 solicitous to remove such insects or foreign bodies as 

 happen to get admission into the hive. When so 

 light as not to exceed their powers, they first kill 

 the insect with their stings, and then drag it out 

 with their teeth. But it sometimes happens that an 

 ill-fated snail creeps into the hive. This is no sooner 

 perceived than it is attacked on all sides and stun**- 

 to death. But how are the bees to carry out so 

 heavy a burthen ? Such a labour would be in vain. 

 To prevent the noxious odours consequent on its 

 putrefaction, they immediately embalm it, by cover- 

 ing every part of its body with propolis, through 

 which no effluvia can escape. When a snail with 

 a shell gets entrance, to dispose of it gives much 

 less trouble and expence to the bees. As soon as 

 it receives the first wound from a sting, it natu- 

 rally retires within its shell. In this case, the bees, 

 instead of pasting it all over with propolis, content 

 themselves with glueing all round the margin of the 

 shell ; which is sufficient to render the animal for 

 ever immoveablv fixed. 



But propolis, and the materials for making v/ax, 

 are not the only substances that these industrious 

 animals have to collect. As, besides the whole win- 

 ter, there are many days in summer in which the 

 bees are prevented by the weather from going 

 abroad in quest of provisions : they are, therefore. 



