BEE KEEPERS. 449 



strong hold on the flesh as to make it generally impossible for the bee to extricate 

 its sting when deeply imbedded. The lancets are attached to the shaft by a very 

 simple, yet perfect, arrangement. Along the inner margins of the groove extends a 

 ridge, or guide-bars, shaped very much like the ordinary railroad iron or T rail. 

 These guide-bars fit into grooves in the lancets of exactly the same shape. By this 

 arrangement the lancets are held firmly to the shaft, and at the same time given 

 considerable freedom of motion longitudinally. The lancets can be protruded 

 beyond the end of the shaft, thus making a deeper wound. The lancets are 

 tubular, and through them the poison is carried into the bottom of the wound. It 

 escapes by oozing from little pores opening under each barb. The liquid enters the 

 lancets from the enlargement of the shaft. This enlargement very much resembles 

 the piston chamber of a force-pump in function. Attached to each barb is a stout 

 membraneous flap, or valve, and these work back and forth in the chamber, forcing 

 the liquid down through the tubes into the wound. These valves receive their 

 motion from the lancets, which in the act of stinging are rapidly thrust back and 

 forth with a dart-like motion. This motion serves the double purpose of forcing 

 the poison down into the wound and of working the entire sting deeper and deeper 

 into the flesh. 



The machinery for operating the sting consists of three flat pieces, so attached 

 to fixed points as to form very perfect levers of motion. Their motion is somewhat 

 complex, and can best be explained from the drawings. 



The poison sac is very large, comparatively, and is readily seen with the naked 

 eye. When filled it will hold a miniature drop. The gland is situated among the 

 abdominal viscera, and is connected with the sac by a long convoluted tube. 



The stings of wasps, bumble bees, yellow-jackets and hornets all bear a general 

 resemblance to that of the .honey bee in structure and action, the striking 

 diffierence b»ing in the greater curvature of the shaft and lancets, and in the fewer 

 number of barbs. In these species there are only three barbs on the sting, and 

 these usually very small. This accounts for the fact of the wasp being able to 

 extricate his sting and repeat the process several times. When the bee loses his 

 sting it can never sting again, since there are no organs to produce a second one. 



The sting of the queen is considerably longer than that of the worker, and does 

 not seem to be so well armed with barbs. The queen is said to be very docile, and 

 can rarely be induced to use her sting, even in defense of her life. 



Mr. Cotton. I believe the general opinion is that the bee in stinging loses his 

 sting. Is that the case? 



Mr. Verne. The poison gland is generally pulled out, losing the whole sting. 

 Mr. Anderson. You say the sac contains a minute drop of poison. I would 

 consider a minute drop a poor descri))tion. 



Mr. Verne. I measured one. It was about one-fourth of a rain drop, which 

 we considered a fair sample. 



Mr. Anderson. Do you know of any use for the sting except as a weapon of defense? 

 Mr, Verne. No, sir, I do not. 



F. L. Daugherty. Prof. Wiley says the bee use the sting in sending out formic 

 acid. This is added to the honey by the use of the sting. 



29 — Agrictilture. 



