THE BEE. 283 



the cavity in their thighs. The belly is ornamented with 

 six rings ; and contains, besides the intestines, the honey- 

 bladder, the venom-bladder, and the sting. The honey- 

 bladder is a reservoir, into which is deposited the honey 

 that the bee sips from the cups of the flowers after it has 

 passed through the proboscis, and through the narrow pipes 

 that connect the head, breast, and belly of the bee. This 

 bladder, when full, is of the size of a small pea, and is so 

 transparent, that the color of the honey can be distinguish- 

 ed through it. The sting is situated at the extremity of 

 the belly, and the head or root of it is placed contiguous to 

 the small bladder that contains the venom, connected to 

 the belly by certain small muscles, by means of which the 

 bee can dart it out and draw it in with great force and 

 quickness. In length it is about the sixth part of an inch. 

 These working bees may be said to compose the whole 

 community, except in the season of the drones, which 

 hardly lasts three months. During all the other nine 

 months, there are no other bees in the hive except them 

 and the queen. The whole labor of the hive is performed 

 by them. They build the combs, collect the honey, bring 

 it home, and store it up in their waxen magazines. They 

 rear up the eggs to produce young queens, common bees, 

 and drones ; they carry out all incumbrances that are in 

 the hives ; they defend the community against enemies of 

 every kind, and kill all the drones. 



When the bees 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 lay- 

 ing out the bottom and partitions of their cells ; a third is 

 employed in making the inside smooth from the corners 

 and angles ; and the fourth company brings food for the 

 rest, or relieves those who return with their respective bur- 

 dens. But they are not kept constant to one employment ; 

 they often change the tasks assigned them ; those that have 

 been at work being permitted to go abroad, and those that 



