Sting of the Honey Bee. 9 



to the interior cavity of the lancets, through which the poison 

 enters the moment this valve closes the channel between the 

 lancets by striking into the angle of the sheath at c, Fig. 3. 



By the sudden closing of this valve, an action comparable 

 to that of the hydraulic ram ensues, for the fluid virus, poured 

 into the wound at first through a comparatively large outlet, 

 is suddenly arrested in its course, and if it may be supposed 

 to have any momentum, will be injected with increased force 

 into the deeper wound made by the protrusion of the lancets, 

 passing out of them through the minute canals seen in Fig. 11, 

 between the barbs. This comparison, however, in the case of 

 the bee, ends with a single stroke ; for the sting is so firmly 

 anchored, by the deep, recurved teeth, that in most cases it 

 cannot be withdrawn, and the insect escapes leaving it in the 

 wound. 



By allowing the bee to sting a soft piece of leather, an excel- 

 lent opportunity is thus offered for studying certain parts of 

 the action and mechanism, for the whole apparatus, including 

 the poison gland, or the entire parts, with this addition, seen 

 in Fig. I, will be beautifully dissected ; the bee not appearing 

 to be seriously injured by the loss. Rapid automatic contrac- 

 tions of the muscular coats of the poison-gland continue to 

 pump out its venomous contents, and the muscles attached to 

 the broad lever, C, make ineffectual efforts to retract the lan- 

 cets for several minutes after the parts have been detached 

 from the body. These motions can easily be seen without a 

 lens. 



The lever mechanism, which enables the bee to thrust its 

 weapon, nearly the entire length, beyond the abdomen, with a 

 penetrating force, apparently so disproportionate to its size 

 and strength, will be readily understood by reference to 

 Fig. I. 



The pieces, C and D, furnish broad surfaces of attachment 

 to the muscles, with which their upper (inner) superfices are 

 closely packed. These muscles extend in groups forward to 

 the sternites or lower segments of the abdomen. The points, 

 D D, being fixed by a pair of ligaments connected with the 

 segment above. 



By the contraction of the attached muscles, all the pieces, 

 C, D, and B, on both sides, are swept together around the 



