96 HISTORY OF 



those of a fish-hook, which render the sting^ more 

 painful, and makes the darts rankle in the wound. 

 Still, however, this instrument would be very 

 slight, did not the bee poison the wound. The 

 sheath, which has a sharp point, makes the first 

 impression, which is followed by that of the darts, 

 and then the venomous liquor is poured in. The 

 sheath sometimes sticks so fast in the wound, that 

 the animal is obliged to leave it behind, by which 

 the bee soon after dies, and the wound is consi- 

 derably inflamed. It might at first appear well 

 for mankind if the bee were without its sting ; 

 but upon recollection it will be found, that the 

 little animal would then have too many rivals in 

 sharing its labours. A hundred other lazy animals, 

 fond of honey, and hating labour, would intrude 

 upon the sweets of the hive, and the treasure 

 would be carried off for want of armed guardians 

 to protect it. 



From examining the bee singly, we now come 

 to consider it in society, as an animal not only 

 subject to laws, but active, vigilant, laborious, 

 and disinterested. All its provisions are laid up 

 for the community, and all its arts in building a 

 cell designed for the benefit of posterity. The 

 substance with which bees build their cells is 

 wax, which is fashioned into convenient apart- 

 ments for themselves and their young. When 

 they begin to work in their hives, they divide 

 themselves into four companies, one of which 

 roves in the fields in search of materials ; another 

 employs itself in laying out the bottom and parti- 

 tions of their cells ; a third is employed in mak- 



