STING OF THE BEE. 395 



generally see, and not the more delicate apparatus 

 which is enclosed within it. Inside this scabbard 



A Bee's Sting magnified, 

 a, represents the pair of darts ; d, a single dart ; b, the poison-bag ; and c, the sheath. 



is a pair of most fine darts, which are even more 

 delicate than the human hair, and are therefore 

 invisible to the eye, unassisted by a good lens. 

 These darts are notched like very fine saws at the 

 end, the teeth being so directed as to oppose the 

 retraction of the instrument if it is thrust into the 

 human skin ; the sting being therefore left in the 

 wound, and the wounded person having the com- 

 fort of knowing if we should call it a comfort 

 that the insect will surely die speedily, in conse- 

 quence of its attack upon him. An exquisite 

 adaptation of fine muscles is attached to this 

 weapon, by which it is forcibly driven home. 



