1895 



THE MICROSCOPE. 



165 



membranous texture covered with fine liairs, and are fur- 

 nished with nervures, with a set of vessels for the circu- 

 lation of the blood, and another set for the circulation of 

 air. That these wings may offer the broadest possible 

 resistance to the air, the posterior pair are provided with 

 a row of exquisitely formed hooks (fig. 10, m), while the 

 anterior pair are provided with a rib or bar (fig. n) over 

 which these hooks may be elapsed, thus forming an un- 



broken surface. Bees use their wings to ventilate the 

 hive much as we use fans. 



The Sting. — What is usually known as the sting of the 

 bee is really the sheath which contains the piercing appa- 

 ratus (fig. 6, m). This consists of two long darts (fig. 

 6, n) barbed as shown in fig. 7, each barb having eight 

 teeth ; they are so placed when in use th.;it the smooth 

 edges come together, making a formidable weapon. At 

 the base of the sting is a sac of poison which is operated 

 by the same muscles as the sting. As the sheath con- 



