354 SAGACITY OF BEES. 



it with their stings, the. cunning economists fixed it, 

 immovably, by cementing merely the edge of the ori- 

 fice of the shell to the glass with resin, (propolis), and 

 thus it became a prisoner for life." Now the instinct 

 that prompts the gathering of propolis in August, and 

 filling every crack, flaw, or inequality about the 

 hive, would cement the edges of the snail-shell to the 

 glass, and a small stone, block of wood, chip, or any 

 substance that they are unable to remove, would be 

 fastened with it in the same manner. The edges or , 

 bottom of the hive, when in close proximity to the 

 bottom, is joined to it with this substance. Whatever 

 the obstacle may be,, it is pretty sure to receive a 

 coating of this. The stoppers for the holes at the top 

 are held in their places on the same principle ; and 

 the unaccountable sagacity that once fastened a little 

 door, might possibly be nothing more than the same 

 instinct. 



Another principle, I think, will be found to be uni- 

 versal with them, instead of sagacious reasoning. 



Whenever the combs in a hive have been broken, 

 or when combs have been added, as was mentioned in 

 the chapter on fall management, the first duty of the 

 bees appears to be to fasten them as they are ; when 

 the edges are near the side of the hive, or two combs 

 in contact, a portion of wax is detached and used for 

 joining them together, or to the side. 



. MENDING- BEOKEN COMBS. 



Where two combs do not touch, and yet are close 

 together, a small bar is constructed from one to the 



