108 INSECT ARCHITECTURE. 



propolis within the cells, were easily distinguished 

 from the multitude of workers, by the direction of 

 their heads towards the horizontal pane forming the 

 roof of the hive, and on reaching' it, they deposited 

 their burden nearly in the middle of intervals sepa- 

 rating the combs : then they conveyed the propolis 

 to the real place of its destination. They suspended 

 themselves by the claws of the hind legs to points of 

 support, afforded by the viscosity of the propolis on 

 the glass ; and, as it were, swinging themselves back- 

 wards and forwards, brought the heap of thissubstance 

 nearer to the cells at each impulse. Here the bees em- 

 ployed their fore feet, which remained free, to sweep 

 what the teeth had detached, and to unite the frag- 

 ments scattered over the glass, which recovered all 

 its transparency when the whole propolis was brought 

 to the vicinity of the cells. 



"After some of the bees had smoothed down and 

 cleaned out the glazed cells, feeling the way with 

 their antenna?, one desisted, and having approached 

 a heap of propolis, drew out a thread with its teeth. 

 This being broken off, it was taken in the claws of the 

 fore feet, and the bee, re-entering the cell, imme- 

 diately placed it in the angle of two portions that 

 had been smoothed, in which operation the fore feet 

 and teeth were used alternately ; but probably proving 

 too clumsy, the thread was reduced and polished ; 

 and we admired the accuracy with which it was ad- 

 justed when the work was completed. The insect 

 did not stop here : returning to the cell, it prepared 

 other parts of it to receive a second thread, for which 

 we did not doubt that the heap would be resorted to. 

 Contrary to our expectation, however, it availed 

 itself of the portion of the thread cut off on the 

 former occasion, arranged it in the appointed place, 

 and gave it all the solidity and finish of which it was 

 susceptible. Other bees concluded the work which 

 the first had begun ; and the sides of the c.lls were 



