PROPOLIS. 87 



alder, horse-chestnut, birch, and willow ; and as some think, 

 from pines and other trees of the fir kind. Bees will enter 

 shops where varnishing is being carried on, attracted, evi- 

 dently by the smell ; and in the vicinity of Matamoras, 

 Mexico, where propolis seems to be scarce, I found a colony 

 using green paint, and another pitch from the rigging of ves- 

 sels ! Bevan mentions the fact of their carrying off a com- 

 position of wax and turpentine, from trees to which it had 

 been applied. Dr. Evans says that he has seen them collect 

 the balsamic varnish which coats the young blossom buds of 

 the hollyhock, and has known them rest at least ten minutes 

 on the same bud, moulding the balsam with their fore feet, 

 and transferring it to the hinder legs, as described by Huber. 



" "With merry hum the "Willow's copse they scale, 

 The Fir's dark pyramid, or Poplar pale, 

 Scoop from the Alder's leaf its oozy flood, 

 Or strip the Chestnut's resin-coated bud, 

 Skim the light tear that tips Narcissus' ray, 

 Or round the hollyhock's hoar fragrance play.- 

 Soon temper'd to their will through eve's low beam, 

 And link'd in airy bands the viscous stream, 

 They waft their nut-brown loads exulting home, 

 That form a fret-work for the future comb ; 

 Caulk every chink where rushing winds may roar, 

 And seal their circling ramparts to the floor." 



Evans. 



A mixture of wax and propolis being much more adhesive 

 than wax alone, serves admirably to strengthen the attach- 

 ments of the combs to the top and sides of the hive. If the 

 combs, as soon as they are built, are not filled with honey or 

 brood, they are beautifully varnished with a most delicate 

 coating of propolis, which adds exceedingly to their strength : 

 but as this natural varnish impairs their snowy whiteness, 

 they ought not to be left in the surplus honey receptacles, 

 accessible to the bees, except when they are actively engaged 

 in storing them with honey. 



