112 THE BUILDING OF BEES. 



which become entirely immovable, when once coated with it. 

 It is, at all times, the greatest hindrance to the neat handling 

 of the combs, and in warm weather daubs the hands of the 

 Apiarist. It can only be cleaned from the fingers by the use, 

 in place of soap, of a few drops of turpentine, alcohol, spirits 

 of hartshorn, or ether. 



To clean it from metal surfaces, use steam or boiling water 

 strengthened with lye. Scraping is necessary to remove it 

 from smooth wooden surfaces. 



341. Propolis is sometimes put to a very curious use by 

 the bees. 



"A snail, having crept into one of M. Reaumur's hives early 

 in the morning, after crawling about for some time, adhered, 

 by means of its own slime, to one of the glass panes. The bees 

 having discovered the snail, surrounded it, and formed a border 

 of propolis round the verge of its shell, and fastened it so 

 securely to the glass that it became immovable." — (Be van.) 



"Forever closed the impenetrable door; 

 It naught avails that in its torpid veins 

 Year after year, life's loitering spark remains." 



Evans. 

 "Maraldi, another eminent Apiarist, states that a snail with- 

 out a shell having entered one of his hives, the bees, as soon as 

 they observed it, stung it to death; after which, being unable 

 to dislodge it, they covered it all over with an impervious coat 

 of propolis." — (Bevan.) 



"For soon in fearless ire, their wonder lost, 

 Spring fiercely from the comb the indignant host, 

 Lay the pierced monster breathless on the ground, 

 And clap in joy their victor pinions round:- 

 While all in vain concurrent numbers strive — 

 To heave the slime-girt giant from the hive — 

 Sure not alone by force instinctive swayed, 

 But blest with reason's soul-directing aid, 

 Alike in man or bee, they haste to pour, 

 Thick, hard'ning as it falls, the flaky shower; 

 Embalmed in shroud of glue the mummy lies, 

 No worms invade, no foul miasmas rise. ' ' 



Evans. 



