HONEY AND ITS SOURCES. 193 



unable to remove, they have a remedy in propolis, with 

 which they will encase the objectionable substance. 

 They will also with propolis firmly cement to the floor 

 the shells of intruding snails, effectually stopping their 

 slimy wanderings over the combs. Reason and Instinct ! 

 Who shall presume to say where the line is drawn ? 



HONEY AND ITS SOURCES. 



Honey is the most important product of the Bees' 

 industry, and the main article for which Bees are culti- 

 vated. It may be shortly described as a sweet vegetable 

 juice, secreted in the nectaries of flowers, from whence it 

 is gathered by the Bees. Its chemical constituents are 

 nearly the same as glucose or grape-sugar. Popularly, 

 Bees are supposed to " make " honey : they do not do 

 so ; they simply gather and store it, after which much of 

 the water it contains is evaporated, until, before sealing 

 over in the cells, it becomes considerably thicker than 

 when gathered. If the Bees be supplied with sugar 

 syrup they will store it, and to the eye it Jias much the 

 appearance of natural honey ; but it is syrup still, as 

 may be proved by tasting. A Bee gathers honey with 

 its tongue, a beautiful flexible instrument, having about 

 112 joints. It is covered with hairs, and measures as 

 nearly as possible one-eighth of an inch in length. This, 

 inserted into the liquid nectar, is alternately extended 

 and contracted, by which means the honey is passed up- 

 wards into the mouth, and thence through the gullet 

 into the honey-bag or first stomach ; which is the vehicle 

 for conveyance home ; from there it is regurgitated 



o 



