LIFE IN THE INSECT WORLD. 169 



Mary. Oh, but that is not the needle. 



Aunt M. Yes, it is the very same needle. 

 Why not ? 



Mary. Why, it looks blunt and rough, and 

 full of scratches ; it is not smooth at all. 



Aunt M. And yet it is one of our finest 

 needles ; and you see that out of the glass it 

 appears bright and smooth as possible ; but the 

 microscope shows all the defects. 



And now we will look at the sting of the bee. 

 You see it is beautifully polished also. 



Harriet. So it is ; but it does not look 

 brighter than the needle. 



Aunt M. We will examine it more closely. 

 Here, Harriet, is the microscope. How does it 

 look now ? 



Harriet. Why it looks just as bright and 

 smooth as before, although a great deal larger. 



Aunt M. And is the point blunt and rough, 

 like that of the needle ? 



Harriet. No ; the point is so fine I can 

 scarcely see it at all. 



Aunt M. I want you particularly to notice 

 and remember this. We will lay the needle and 

 the sting side by side. You see, that while one 

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