Bramble-bees and Others 



has to penetrate at a definite point, exactly 

 where the Wasp's sting would have entered. 

 My intractable captive tosses about angrily 

 and stings at random, never- where I wish. 

 My fingers get hurt even oftener than the pa- 

 tient. I have only one means of gaining a 

 little control of the indomitable dart; and that 

 is to cut off the Bee's abdomen with my scis- 

 sors, to seize the stump instantly with a fine 

 forceps and to apply the tip at the spot where 

 the sting is to enter. 



Everybody knows that the Bee's abdomen 

 needs no orders from the head to go on draw- 

 ing its weapon for a few instants longer and 

 to avenge the deceased before being itself 

 overcome with death's inertia. This vindictive 

 persistency serves me to perfection. There 

 is another circumstance in my favour: the | 

 barbed sting remains where it is, which en- 

 ables me to ascertain the exact spot pierced. 

 A needle withdrawn as soon as inserted would 

 leave me doubtful. I can also, when the trans- 

 parency of the tissues permits, perceive the 

 direction of the weapon, whether perpendicu- 

 lar and favourable to my plans, or slanting 

 and therefore valueless. Those are the 

 advantages. 



342 



