INSECTS : STINGS AND OVIPOSITORS. 



12: 



is the secreting organ : here the venom is prepared ; the 

 remainder of the tube is 

 a duct for conveying it to 

 thebag, a reservoir in which 

 it is stored for the moment 

 of use. By means of the 

 neck it is thrown into the 

 groove at the moment the 

 sting is projected; thesame 

 muscles, probably, that dart 

 forward the weapon com- 

 pressing thepoison-bag, and 

 causing it to pour forth its 

 contents into the groove, 

 whence it passes on be- 

 tween the two lancets into 

 the wound which they have 

 made.* 



A modification of this ap- 

 paratus is found through- 

 out a very extensive order 

 of Insects, — the Hymeno- 

 ptera ; but in the majority 

 of cases it is not connected 

 with purposes of warfare. 

 Wherever it occurs it is 

 always confined to the 

 female sex, or (as in the 

 case of some social insects) 

 to the neuters, which are un- 

 developed females. When 

 it is not accompanied by a 

 poison-reservoir it is used 



* Some further researches of value on the stings of Wasps and Bees, 

 with copious illustrations, will be found in Hardwicke's Science-Gossip 

 for 1868, p. 148, by Dr. Mills, p. 205, by " S. &," and for 1873, p. 132, 

 by Mr. Nisbett Browne. 



STING OF BEE. 



a. Tip of Lancet, more enlarged. 



