VOL. LXXXII.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 189 



scales, and converging towards the groove at its base, which they enter, then 

 pass along it to its point. They are serrated on their outer edges, near to the 

 point. These 2 stings can be thrust out beyond the groove, though not far, 

 and they can be drawn within it ; and I believe can be moved singly. All these 

 parts are moved by muscles, which we may suppose are very strong in them, 

 much stronger than in other animals ; and these muscles give motion in almost 

 all directions, but more particularly outwards. It is wonderful how deep they 

 will pierce solid bodies with the sting. I have examined the length they have 

 pierced the palm of the hand, which is covered with a thick cuticle : it has often 

 been about the -J^ of an inch. To perform this by mere force, 2 things are 

 necessary, power of muscles, and strength of the sting; neither of which they 

 seem to possess in sufficient degree. I own I do not understand this operation. 



1 am apt to conceive there is something in it distinct from simple force applied to 

 one end of a body ; for if this was simply the case, the sting of the bee could 

 not be made to pierce by any power applied to its base, as the least pressure 

 bends it in any direction : it is possible the serrated edges may assist, by cutting 

 their way in, like a saw. 



The apparatus for the poison consists of 2 small ducts, which are the glands 

 that secrete the poison : these 2 lie in the abdomen, among the air-cells, &c. : 

 they both unite into 1, which soon enters into, or forms, an oblong bag, like a 

 bladder of urine ; at the opposite end of which passes out a duct, which runs 

 towards the angle where the 2 stings meet ; and entering between the 2 stings, 

 is continued between them in a groove, which forms a canal by the union of the 



2 stings to this point. There is another duct on the right of that described 

 above, which is not so circumscribed, and contains a thicker matter, which, as 

 far as I have been able to judge, enters along with the other : but it is the first 

 that contains the poison, which is a thin clear fluid. To ascertain which was 

 the poison, I dipped points of needles into both, and pricked the back of the 

 hand ; and those punctures that had the fluid from the first-described bags in 

 them became sore and inflamed, while the others did not. From the stings 

 having serrated edges, it is seldom the bees can disengage ihem ; and they im- 

 mediately on stinging endeavour to make their escape, but are generally pre- 

 vented, being as it were caught in their own trap ; and the force they use com- 

 monly drags out the whole of the apparatus for stinging, and also part of the 

 bowels ; so that the bee most frequently falls a sacrifice immediately on having 

 effected its purpose. On a superficial view, one conceives that the first intention 

 of the bee having a sting is evident ; one sees it has property to defend, and that 

 therefore it is fitted for defence ; but why it should naturally fall a sacrifice in its 

 own defence, does not so readily appear : besides, all bees have stings, though 

 all bees have not property to defend, and therefore are not under the same ne- 



