HEALTH OE THE HIVE. 
57 
they immediately embalm it, by covering every 
part of its body with propolis, through which no 
effluvia can escape. When a snail with a shell 
gets entrance, to dispose of it gives much less 
trouble and expense to the bees. As soon as it 
receives the first wound from a sting, it natu- 
rally retires within its shell. In this case, the 
bees, instead of pasting it all over with propolis, 
content themselves with gluing down the mar- 
gin of the shell, which is sufficient to render the 
animal immovably fixed.” 
Having now seen of what material the comb 
is made, we are ready to examine the manner 
of building ; and we shall find the bee as ingen- 
ious an architect as man. 
