2g6 MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. [Ch. vi. 



but a very uncertain, source of honey is the " honey- 

 dew," which in some seasons appears in large quanti- 

 ties on the leaves of the oak, the lime, and some other 

 trees (see below). 



§ IV. HONEY. 



All that need be said in this place is a few observa- 

 tions upon honey considered in itself Practically, but 

 not absolutely, it is destitute of nitrogen, which is the 

 flesh-forming principle in food. It has been much 

 contended whether or not it undergoes any transforma- 

 tion by being swallowed by the bee. Dzierzon and 

 others have maintained that it does ; Gundelach and 

 Dr. Donhoff have taken the contrary view, and Von 

 Berlepsch has come round to the sarrie, which it will be 

 seen is also held by Schmid and Kleine, from whom we 

 translate the following description of this article : — ■ 



" Honey may be of diverse origin : it is either nectar 

 or bud honey, or leaf honey (the so-called honey-dew), 

 or aphis honey [another form of honey-dew], or fruit 

 honey. The sources of honey unfortunately do not flow 

 with the same strength everywhere and at all times. 



" For collecting the honey, bees are provided with 



tongues and honey-stomachs In the stomach the 



honey undergoes no transformation ; only by evapora- 

 tion in the cells does it receive its subsequent distinctive 

 character. After sufficient evaporation the cells that 

 contain it are sealed over with flat wax lids. 



