PROPOLIS, OR HIFE-CEMENT. 103 



Another snail story is recorded by Dr. Bevan as 

 having occurred in the apiary of M. Reaumur. A 

 garden-snail with hard shell crawled one evening through 

 the entrance of the hive, apparently unnoticed by the 

 sentinels guarding the entrance ; at least, having a hard 

 shell, the bees, we should judge, were unable to destroy 

 it by their stings. Next morning M. Reaumur observed 

 it resting with slime upon the glass with which one side 

 of the hive was covered ; at the same moment he noticed 

 the bees were wild and excited, evidently disliking their 

 strange visitor, who had so coolly taken up his quarters 

 as a tenant in their home, and as the sequel will show he 

 was destined to be a permanent fixture in the hive, for 

 they applied propolis dexterously around the edge of the 

 shell in contact with the glass ; this when hardened was 

 as firm as cement, and securely fastened the snail to the 

 glass, so that he was unable to stir from the spot where he 

 had ensconced himself. 



I have heard of the body of a mouse being encased in 

 propolis similar to the snail, but cannot vouch for it as a 

 fact. 



Bees collect propolis in the greatest quantity about 

 noon. It is very seldom gathered either in the early 

 morning or in the evening, whilst honey and pollen are 

 both brought to the hive at all hours. Propolis can be 

 collected best in the heat of the day, when softened by the 

 sun. According to Vanquelin, who analysed it direct 

 from the hive, it consists of one part of wax to four of 

 resin. When brought to the hive it is of a soft, pliant 

 nature, but in a few hours so rapidly does it harden that 

 ofttimes it is difficult for the bees to tear it away from the 

 legs of those who have gathered it. When an old-fashioned 

 cottager's skep has stood on the stand for a few months 

 it is so firmly glued down with propolis as to be immov- 

 able, except a knife is passed between the straw and the 



