170 LIFE IN THE INSECT WORLD. 



is rough and blunt, and full of holes and scratches, 

 the other is bright and smooth, and beautiful as 

 possible, without scratch or defect of any kind. 

 A more powerful microscope than this would 

 discover still more imperfections in the needle, 

 but none in the sting of the bee. You will 

 always find this difference between nature and 

 art ; between the works of God and of man. If 

 you take the leaf of a flower, and examine it 

 through a microscope, you will discover new 

 beauties, but you will never perceive a defect. 

 But if you have a copy of that flower drawn 

 and colored by the most skilful artist, and look 

 at it through the glass, it will appear like a mere 

 daub. Man can do wonders, and many of his 

 works are exceedingly beautiful, but he can 

 never equal nature. 



But you have only seen the outside of the 

 sting of the bee the sheath or covering in 

 which the sting is enclosed. It is so fine that I 

 am afraid I cannot open it to shew you the real 

 sting, and I do not know that you would be able 

 to see it if I did. There, I have succeeded in 

 separating the sheath. Can you see any thing 

 inside? 



