254 NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Honey bag Venom-bag Sting. 



ing the best of its way to the hive. Its belly is 

 divided into six rings, which shorten the body, 

 by slipping one over the other. It contains 

 within it, beside the intestines, the honey-bag, 

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

 is as transparent as crystal, containing the ho- 



nev that the bee has brushed from the flowers : 

 ./ s 



of which the greater part is carried to the hive, 

 and poured into the cells of the honey-comb; 

 while the remainder serves for the bee's own 

 nourishment : for, during summer, it never 

 touches what has been laid up for the winter. 

 The sting, which serves to defend this little ani- 

 jnal from its enemies, is composed of three parts; 

 the sheath, and two darts, which are extremely 

 small and penetrating. Both the darts have se- 

 veral small points, or barbs, like those of a fish- 

 hook, which renders the sting more painful, and 

 makes the darts rankle in the wound. Still, how- 

 ever, this instrument would be very slight, did 

 not the bee poison the wound. The sheath, 

 sometimes sticks so fast in the wound, that the 

 animal is obliged to leave it behind ; by. which 

 the bee soon after dies, and the wound is consi- 

 derably enflamed. It might at first appear well 

 for mankind, if the bee were without its sting : 

 but, upon recollection, it will be found that the 

 little animal would then have too many rivals in 

 sharing its labours. An hundred other lazy ani- 

 mals, fond of honey, and hating labour, would 

 intrude upon the sweets of the hive,- and the 



