106 THE BUILDING OP BEES. 



Huber planted in Spring some branches of the wild pop- 

 lar, before the leaves 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 in threads, and loaded with it, first one thigh and 

 then the other ; for they convey it like pollen, from one leg 

 to the other. We have seen them thus remove the warm 

 propolis from old bottom-boards standing in 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 var- 

 nishing shops, attracted evidently by their smell ; and in the 

 vicinity of Matamoras, Mexico, where propohs seems to be 

 scarce, we saw them using 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 holly-hock, and 

 has known them to rest at least ten minutes on the same 

 bud, moulding the balsam with their fore-feet, and trans- 

 ferring 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 ; 

 Then 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. 



237. A mixture of wax and propolis being much more 

 adhesive than wax alone, serves admirably to strengthen the 

 attachments of the combs to the top and sicles of the hive. 



