344 THE BEK keeper's MANUAL. 



some time, beneath and around the trees affected with hon- 

 ey-dew, till washed away by the rain. The power which 

 these insects possess of ejecting the fluid from their bodies, 

 seems to have been wisely instituted to preserve cleanliness 

 in each individual fly, and indeed for the preservation of 

 the whole family ; for pressing as they do upon one another, 

 they would otherwise soon be glued together, and rendered 

 incapable of stirring. On looking steadfastly at a group of 

 these insects (Aphides Salicis) while feeding on the bark 

 of the willow, their superior size enables u? to perceive 

 some of them elevating their bodies and emitting a transpa- 

 rent substance in the form of a small shower." 



" Nor scorn ye now, fond elves, the foliage sear, 

 When the light aphids, arm'd with puny spear, 

 Probe each emulgent vein, till bright below, 

 Like falling stars, clear drops of nectar glow." 



Evans. 



" The willow accommodates the bees in a kind of three- 

 fold succession ; from the flowers they obtain both honey 

 and farina ; — from the bark propolis ; — and the leaves fre- 

 quently afford them honey-dew at a time when other re- 

 sources are beginning to fail." 



" Honey-dew usually appears upon the leaves as a viscid, 

 transpareiit substance, as sweet as honey itself, sometimes 

 in the form of globules, at others resembling a syrup ; it is 

 generally most abundant from the middle of June to the 

 middle of July, sometimes as late as September." 



" It is found chiefly upon the oak, the elm, the maple, the 

 plane, the sycamore, the lime, the hazel, and the blackberry ; 

 occasionally also on the cherry, currant, and other fruit 

 trees. Sometimes only one species of trees is affected at a 

 time. The oak generally affords the largest quantity. At 

 the season of its greatest abundance, the happy humming 

 noise of the bees may be heard at a considerable distance 



