LIFE IN THE INSECT WORLD. 171 



Eenei. I think I see too very fine hairs. 



ftunt M. Those are the darts which form 

 the sting. A stronger microscope would show 

 you ten very fine teeth, like those of a saw, upon 

 the end of each of these. 



At the lower end of the sting is a little bag, 

 containing a poisonous fluid ; and when the bee 

 thrusts its sting into any thing, it causes a pres- 

 sure upon this bag, and the poison is thrown 

 into the wound. If the substance is soft, the 

 bee can draw out its sting uninjured, but if it 

 thrusts it into the tough skin of a man's hand, it 

 breaks in the attempt to withdraw it, and the 

 end of it remains in the flesh. This breaking 

 of the sting always occasions the death of the 

 bee. 



I have now given you a pretty full account 

 of the habits of the domestic bee. There are 

 also many species of wild honey bees, some of 

 which are found in America, and some in. other 

 places. 



A little black bee, without a sting, which is 

 found in the Island of Guadaloupe, generally 

 builds in the clefts of rocks, or in hollow trees. 

 But instead of having the little six-sided cells, 



