62 TREATISE ON THE 
cavity in their hind legs, they bring home 
the pollen or farinaceous dust of flowers, 
kneaded by the help of the morning dew in- 
to tiny balls, which form an important in- 
gredient in the nourishment of the brood ; 
and also the: propolis or adhesive gum ex- 
tracted from willows, &c-, with which they 
attach their combs to the upper part and 
sides of the hive, and stop every crevice that 
might admit the winter’s cold. .Exploringa 
glass hive in a soft spring morning, and fol- 
lowing with your eye a Bee loaded with fa- 
rina, the observer will perceive the little ac- 
tive forager on her arrival in the interior, 
hurrying over the surface of the comb in 
search of a proper cell in which to deposit 
her burden; and having found one, fasten- 
ing herself by the two fore feet on its supe- 
_ nior border, then bending her body a little 
forward, that her hinder feet may catch hold 
of the opposite edge of the cell. In this po- 
sition she is next seen thrusting back her 
second pair of feet, one on each side, and 
sweeping with them from top to bottom 
