XXVI CONTENTS. 



PAGE 



Cause of the edges of the combs being of a deeper colour 

 than the interior of the ceil— Hypothesis of L'Abbe della 

 Rocca— Experiments of Reaumur— Singular opinion ad- 

 vanced by Ducouedic— Investigation of that opinion— Origin 

 of wax according to the u Encyclopedic Me'thodique" 380 



CHAPTER XX. 



ON THE NATURE OF PROPOLIS. 



The hypothesis of Huber relative to the nature and origin 

 of propolis not founded on truth — Supposed to be gathered 

 from certain plants — The cells of the bees lined and 

 soldered with propolis — Arguments against that hypo- 

 thesis — Experiments to determine the affinity of wax and 

 propolis — Propolis a vegetable substance — Wax an animal 

 substance — Experiment to determine the nature of pro- 

 polis — Not carried into the hive as a separate substance — 

 The effect of temperature upon it — Position of the bees 

 constructing a comb — The foundation of a comb deter- 

 mined to be wax —Experiment to determine the existence 

 of two separate substances— Concluding reflections 402 



CHAPTER XXI. 



ON THE TRANSPORTATION OF HIVES. 



Profit resulting from the removal of hives — Additional 

 weight of hives by removal to heath — Removal of hives 

 in Scotland — Objections to the removal— Advantages of 

 removal to weak hives — Removal of hives in the autumn 

 and the spring — Hives to be removed to the vicinity of 

 furze — Transportation of hives in Egypt — Practised' by 

 the Greeks and Chinese— Plan adopted in Piedmont — 

 Manner of transporting the hives in France— Rules laid 

 down by M. Bomare— Different systems of removal— The 

 plan of transportation disapproved by Ducarne — His opin- 

 ion examined — Removal of hives recommended in this 

 country • 409 



CHAPTER XXII. 



ON THE EXTENT OF THE FLIGHT OF BEES, AND THE 

 COUNTRIES MOST SUITABLE TO THEIR CULTURE. 



Importance of the question of the extent of the flight f the 

 bee-Advantages of the proximity of food— Causes of the 



