110 THE BUILDING OF BEES. 



The above rules are not without exception, for unnoticed 

 oii'oumstanees may have some influence on the building of 

 combs; but we think that we have stated the main causes of 

 ^ariation. 



Propolis. 



236. This substance, which is used by the bees to coat 

 tlie inside of the bee-hive, and make it water and air tight, 

 is obtained from the resinous buds and limbs of trees ; the 

 different varieties of poplar yield a rich supply. "When first 

 gathered, it is usually of a bright golden color, and so sticky 

 that the bees never store it in cells, but apnlv it at once to 

 the purposes for which they procured it. If a bee is caught 

 while bringing in a load, it will be found to adhere veiy firmly 

 til her legs. 



Huber planted in Spring some branches of the wild pop- 

 lar, before the lea\•e^ were developed, and placed them in pots 

 near his Apiary; the bees alighted on them, separated the folds 

 of the large buds with their forceps, extracted the varnish m 

 threads, and loaded with it first one thigh and then the other; 

 for they convey it like pollen, from one leg to the other. 

 \Ve ha^-e seen them thus remove the warm propolis from old 

 b(iltom-b()a)ds standing m the sun. 



Propolis is frequently gathered from the alder, horse- 

 chestnut, birch, and willow; and as some think, from pines 

 and other trees of the fir kind. Bees will often enter varnish- 

 ing shops, attraete<i evidently by their smell; and in the 

 vicinity of Matamoras, Mexico, where propolis seems to be 

 scarce, we saw them usuig green paint from window-blinds, 

 and pitch from the rigging of a vessel. Bevan mentions the 

 fact of their carrying off a composition of wax and turpen- 

 tine from the trees to which it had been applied. Dr. Evans 

 says he has seen them collect the balsamic varnish which coats 

 the young blossom-buds of the hollyhock, and has knoAvn 

 them to resi at least ten minutes on the same bud, moulding 

 the balsam with their fore-feet, and transferring it to the 

 hinder legs, as described bj' Huber. 



