258 



TRANSFORMATIONS OF INSECTS. 



well known to most of us. It is made up of two very sharp stylets, 

 which are mounted upon scales attached to the last segment of 

 the abdomen, there being two valve-like sheaths which encase and 



HEAD OF THE HIVE BEE, MAGNIFIED, WITH THE PIECES OF THE MOUTH 

 MUCH SEPARATED FROM EACH OTHER. 



protect them. The poison glands are formed by two twisted 

 tubes which lead into a large reservoir, the small opening of which 

 is in a tube that emerges between the piercing stylets. When the 



THE STING AND VENOM GLANDS OF THE BEE. 



bee is about to sting, it contracts the muscles of its abdomen 

 and forces out the stylets, and the pressure exercised in doing 

 this gives out a drop of venom, which runs along the perforating 

 instruments into the wound inflicted by them. 



When a swarm of bees has taken possession of a cavity — of a 



