Bee-Culture at Present 373 



waxen reservoirs, sometimes as large as a pigeon's egg. in 

 vvhicli tlie honey is stored. Tlnese cells are placed close 

 together and are often black or deep violet in color. The 

 people of Mexico and some parts of South America call 

 these stingless bees " angelitos, " or " little angels." The 

 bees are sometimes hived in hollow logs and suspended in 

 the verandas. 



Sometimes the hives are made of earthenware and are 

 very ornamental, the hole through which the bees pass in 

 and out being the mouth of a man or a monster whose head 

 is moulded in the clay of which the hive is made. The 

 bottles or cups containing honey are hung around the sides 

 of the hive, but the cells in which the young are raised 

 resemble the honey-comb of our hive-bees. 



All of Europe is rich in honey-bees, and in most Euro- 

 pean countries bee-culture is practised. 



In Russia the peasants extensively use honey instead of 

 sugar, and the churches make a heavy demand for wax 

 tapers. In former times Poland was particularly famous 

 for its bee-culture, which is still practised to some extent. 

 It is said that in the province of Yekarterinoslaw there are 

 nearly four hives to every inhabitant. 



In former times the island of Corsica paid Rome a large 

 annual tribute of wax. The honey of Corsica was bitter, 

 and thus not esteemed, and the wax is said to have been 

 black, but of good quality, and readily whitened by 

 bleaching. 



East Friesland, a province of Holland, at the present 

 day has two thousand hives per square mile, while France 

 and Spain teem with bees, and produce much honey. 



In Germany from olden time the neighborhood of Nurem- 

 berg has been particularly celebrated. The bee-masters 

 there formed a guild of their own, had special privileges) 

 and stood next to the Emperor, Nuremberg being called 



