STRUCTURE FORM. 249 



namely, the queen, or mother-bee, the drone, and 

 the working-bee. 



In examining the STRUCTURE of the common work- 

 ing bee, says BufFon, the first remarkable part that 

 offers is the trunk (proboscis) which serves to ex- 

 tract the honey from flowers. It is not formed like 

 that of other flies, in the manner of a tube, through 

 which the fluid is to be sucked up ; but like a besom 

 to sweep, or tongue to lick it up. The animal is 

 also furnished with teeth, enabling it to work upon 

 the materials collected, the pollen and farina of 

 flowers, from an elaboration of which in the stomach 

 of the bee, are to be derived both the honey and 

 wax. In the thighs of the hinder legs are found two 

 cavities, fringed with hair, and into these, as into a 

 basket, the bee deposits the pellets it has collected. 

 Thus employed, it flies from flower to flower, in- 

 creasing its stores, until the pellet or ball upon each 

 thigh acquires the size of a grain of pepper ; when, 

 having obtained a sufficient load, it returns home- 

 wards, making the best of its way to the hive. 



The BELLY of the bee is divided into six rings, 

 which, by slipping one over the other, shorten the 

 dimensions of the body. Pliny held that the body 

 of the bee is furnished with pores, through which the 

 animal breathes, and to this opinion, Lisle, the Agri- 

 cultural writer, has assented. The contents of the 

 insect's belly, besides the common intestines, are the 

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

 honey-bag is transparent as crystal, containing the 

 honey which has been collected : the greater part of 

 which is deposited in the hive, being passed into the 



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