Page:Jardine Naturalist's library Bees.djvu/298

294 agreeable as that of the others, and the colour the same. Like the generality of the Melipona tribe, some species deposit their honey not in combs, but in small waxen vessels or cups, resembling, from the description, those constructed by the humble bees of Europe, and about half an inch in diameter. The native Indians use it much as food, and after subjecting it to the process of fermentation, procure from it an intoxicating drink. The wax is of a deeper yellow, and of a softer consistence than ours. It is never whitened, but used in its rude state for lighting the country churches. It is found in such abundance in the woods that the inhabitants of St. Jago del Estero collect yearly in their neighbourhood not less than 14,000 lbs. weight. It may be noticed here that the inhabitants of Paraguay find a species of wax on the branches of the Guabirami. This is a shrub two or three feet high, which produces one of the finest fruits in the country. The wax forms the nests of some small insects, constructed on the branches of the plant; and these tiny dwelling-places are in shape and size like so many pearls, glued together in strings or clusters. The substance itself is much superior to the wax of any of the bees above described as inhabiting the province, both in solidity and whiteness. One other species is mentioned by Azara as found in Paraguay—and is probably identical with one found in Brazil—which suspends its nest from the branches of trees. It is about two feet in