OF NATURAL HISTORY. 343 



gluing all round the margin of the fhell, which is fufficient to ren- 

 der the animal forever immoveably fixed. 



But propolis, and the materials for making wax, are not the only 

 fubftances thefe induftrious animals have to colleft. As formerly 

 remarked, befide the whole winter, there are many days in fummer 

 in which the bees are prevented by the weather from going abroad 

 in queft of provifions. They are, therefore, under the neceflity of 

 colleding, and amafling in cells deftined for that purpofe, large 

 quantities of ht)ney. This fv/eet and balfamic liquor they extra(£t, 

 by means of their probofcis or trunk, from the nedtariferous glands 

 of flowers. The trunk of a bee is a kind of rough cartilaginous 

 tongue. After collecting a few fmall drops of honey, the animal 

 with its probofcis conveys them to its mouth and fwallows them. 

 From the oefophagus or gullet, it pafles into the firft ftomach, which 

 is more or lefs fwelled in proportion to the quantity of honey it 

 contains. When empty, it has the appearance of a fine white thread: 

 But, when filled with honey, it affumes the figure of an oblong 

 bladder, the membrane of which is fo thin and tranfparent, that it 

 allows the colour of the liquor it contains to be diftin£tly feen. This 

 bladder is well known to children who live in the country. They 

 cruelly amufc themfelves with catching bees, and tearing them afun- 

 der, in order to fuck the honey; A fingle flower furniflies but a 

 fmall quantity of honey. The bees are, therefore, obliged to fly 

 from one flower to another till they fill their firft ftomachs. When 

 they have accomplifhed this purpofe, they return diredly to the hive, 

 and difgorge in a cell the whole honey they have colleded. It not 

 unfrequently happens, however, that, when on its way to the hive, 

 it is accofted by a hungry companion. How the one can commu- 

 nicate its necefliity to the other, it is perhaps impoflible to difcover. 

 But the fa<fit is certain, that, when two bees meet in this fitualion, 

 they mutually ftop, and the one whofe ftomach is full of honey ex- 

 tends 



