50 



HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



My astonishment was of course great, but I soon 

 unliung him, and having laid him on the floor to 

 uncoil, put him again into his basket, and the basket 

 once more into the bath. 



Two hours passed, and he was in the same limpid 

 state as after his former immersion, so, without 

 giving him time for a second resuscitation, I skinned 

 and stuffed him forthwith, and he now figures 

 in a glass case with other specimens. 



Aegala. 



STINGS OF WASPS AND BEES. 



THE remarks of " Pt. H. N. E.", in a recent 

 (December) number of Science-Gossip show 

 that he has made a careful examination of the lan- 

 cets of the sting, and they display much acuteness 

 of observation so far as they extend. Still, I think 

 he is in error in supposing that " a tube runs along 

 the whole length of the lancet from the poison-bag 

 with branches to three or four teeth near the ex- 

 tremity." 



In favour of his supposition there is, first the 

 opinion of Mr. P. H. Gosse, no mean authority, and 

 which appearances certainly confirm, that the lan- 

 cets are hollow ; this he proved by the best possible 

 test, viz., the presence of movable air-bubbles in the 

 body of the lancet. Secondly, I think it may be 

 admitted that at a certain focus there is the appear- 

 ance of branches from the hollow tube of the lancet 

 to the teeth. 



These admissions are far from affording sufficient 

 grounds for the probability that there is a passage 

 of the poison from the bag down and through the 

 lancets at their extremities, or at the extremities of 

 the points of their barbs, and there are strong rea- 

 sons against the probability of the passage of the 

 poison in this manner. 



To determine with accuracy the points in ques- 

 tion, the sting of the wasp is the best subject for 

 examination, because the tube or duct from the 

 poison-bag to the sting is in this case long, and 

 easily to be traced. It will be requisite that the 

 dissection shall have been carefully performed, so 

 that the entire structure shall be clean and un- 

 broken, and comprehend the sheath, the [two lan- 

 cets, the poison-bag, and duct. 



It will then be found that the lancets lie in the 

 sheath for only about one-half of their length ; that 

 after passing out of the upper portion of the sheath 

 they diverge and become finally attached to the 

 levers, which assist in their motion ; that the duct 

 which conveys the poison passes down between and 

 behind the two lancets, and into the sheath, and 

 that it may be traced passing down the sheath 

 behind the lancets for about one-third the length of 

 the sheath ; that there can be no communication 

 between the poison-duct and the lancets until after 



both have entered the sheath, and that there is 

 none for the third part of the length of the sheath. 



In tracing the course of the duct in the mounted 

 specimen it will be of advantage to use polarized 

 light in the examination: the chitonous portions 

 polarize well and become brilliantly coloured, and 

 the duct can then be more readily traced to its point 

 of attachment to the sheath. 



Now, if the poison finds an entrance into the 

 lancets, there must be apertures in them at about 

 their centre for its admission. No such apertures 

 have ever been spoken of or observed. Again, there 

 must be apertures at the extremities of the lancets 

 and barbs, if the poison pass through them; no 

 such apertures have been observed. 



On the whole, I would conclude that the lancets 

 are hollow, to secure lightness and strength of 

 structure ; that the appearance of branches from 

 the hollow tube of the lancet to its teeth is decep- 

 tive ; that the poison passes down the sheath and 

 out of the aperture at its extremity, which is plainly 

 visible ; that the ends of the lancets when in action 

 are well bathed externally with the poison, which is 

 at the same time poured freely [into the wound 

 formed by the lancets. 



I believe this interpretation of the action of the 

 lancets and poison to be most in accordance with 

 the structure of the sting, and with that simplicity 

 of plan which rejects a compUcated and roundabout 

 way of effecting that which may be accomplished 

 by more direct and simple means. 



Other points of inquiry connected with the struc- 

 ture and operation of stings are to me of greater 

 interest, because of more doubtful and unsettled 

 determination; such as the possible formation of 

 crystals by the evaporation of the poison of the 

 sting, and the uses of the feelers, or hairy append- 

 ages that are attached to the extremities of the 

 levers that move the lancets. 



Of the crystals (Science-Gossip, 1868, page 151) 

 I have obtained a second instance, and I have re- 

 peatedly confirmed my opinion of the structure of 

 the poison-bag to be that which I have explained in 

 my article on that subject ; but I ,'feel anxious to 

 investigate more fully, and to determine satisfac- 

 torily, the causes of the appearance and occurrence 

 of the crystals, which already have excited consider- 

 able interest. As to the palpi, or hairy appendages, 

 I can only say, that I have examined the lancets of 

 many gall-flies, and the saws of many saw-flies, with 

 a view to determine their structure and uses. I 

 have found that in every case they are attached to 

 the levers of the lancets, and vary much in figure 

 and magnitude in different species of hymenoptera. 

 They have been set down as being " guides to the 

 action of the lancets," and as being " employed in 

 oviposition, to receive the egg from the oviduct^ 

 and to fix it to the wall of the cell." I, would say, 

 that in all probability their uses are, that by their 



