THE HIVE BEE, 253 



Peculiar structure. 



CHAP. VIII. 



" In the nice lee what sense so subtly true, 

 From jpois'ttous herbs extracts the healing dew." 



rorm. 



d ',J5tF tui." >'..-.,> i fct.l- 

 T# fT/PE J3JEE. 



THE first remarkable part in the structure of 

 the common working bee, which should be no- 

 ticed, is the trunk, which serves to extract tha 

 honey from flowers. It is not formed, like that 

 of other flies, in the manner of a tube, by which 

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

 to sweep, or a tongue, to lick it away. The ani- 

 mal is furnished also with teeth, which serve it in 

 making wax, which is also gathered from flowers, 

 Jite honey. In the thighs of the hind legs there 

 are two cavities, edged with hair; and into these, 

 as into a basket, the animal sticks its pellets. 

 Thus employed, the bee flies from flower to 

 flower, increasing its store, and adding to its 

 stock of wax, until the bale, upon each thigh, 

 becomes as big as a grain of pepper; by this 

 time having got a sufficient load, it returns, mak- 



