THE ABDOMEN. 127 



liquid is said to have an acid reaction. Hence the 

 application of ammonia, and other alkaline solutions, 

 will most effectually counteract its effects. 



The sting of the queen differs from that of the 

 worker, in having its barbs curved, instead of straight. 

 This modification makes it a much less formidable im- 

 plement. Moreover, it is very seldom employed. It 

 is, indeed, almost impossible to make a queen sting 

 the hand, even by great provocation. Almost the 

 only circumstances in which her majesty employs 

 the weapon are, first, for mortal combat with a rival, 

 and second, for murdering, if permitted by the 

 workers, the princesses before they emerge from the 

 cells in which they have developed. 



The drone is without a sting, and, indeed, seems 

 never to show fight at all. Its jaws might furnish no 

 despicable weapons, but the insect seems to lack 

 spirit to use them, even in self-defence, and when 

 attacked by the mandibles only of the workers, 

 manifests no inclination to employ its own against 

 its tormentors. Struggles to escape, and haste to 

 flee, seem to betray its absence of courage ; though, 

 possibly, an instinctive knowledge that its assailants 

 have in reserve a more deadly piece of armour than 

 strong jaws may make "discretion the better part 

 of valour." 



With regard to the sting of the bee, Paley aptly 

 remarks that it " affords a beautiful example of the 

 union of chemistry and mechanism : of chemistry in 

 respect to the venom, which, in so small a quantity, 

 can produce such powerful effects ; of mechanism, as 

 the sting is not a simple but a compound instrument. 



