144 CLASS-BOOK OF ZOOLOGY. 



blackberry-bushes, and many other plants, which look like 

 fruits or flowers, are produced by the sting of the Gall-fly, 

 (Cynips.) 



§ 605. Punctures, in which they deposite their eggs, are 

 made by the ovipositor of these insects in the bark of 

 plants and trees. There the larva, when hatched, sui ks 

 upthe sap as it ascends, and makes an opening, in which 

 the sap accumulates, and forms an excrescence. 



§ 606. The Ovipositor is a pointed organ of the female, 

 situated at the extremity of the body ; by means of which 

 she is able to perforate the skin of the bark or leaf, and to 

 deposite her eggs in the puncture. 



§ 607. Among the Vein-winged Insects, which con- 

 tribute materially to the destruction of Caterpillars, Spi- 

 ders, etc., is the Ichneumon, that lays its eggs in living 

 Caterpillars, which, in consequence, become diseased, 

 and die. 



§ 608. Wasps, Hornets, Bees, and Ants are remarkable 

 for their' social habits, thousands of them living together; 

 as well as for the extremely ingenious nests they con- 

 struct, by their united efforts, with substances of various 

 kinds : Wasps, for example, with fibres of wood, and Bees 

 with wax. 



\ 609. A hive of Bees is composed of a Queen-Bee, of 

 Males, and of Working-Bees. 



§ 610. The Queen-Bee is slender in body, has short 

 wings, and can lay nearly 12,000 eggs. The Males, or 

 Drones, have a longer and thicker body, as well as longer 

 wings. The Working-Bees, whose task it is to collect 

 materials, build the comb, and nurse the Maggots, are 

 smaller than either. 



\ 611. In about twenty days after the young'come to 

 maturity, they form a colony, and leaving the old hive, 

 construct a new one. 



\ 612. The pain and swelling produced by the sting of 

 Bees, may be remedied by applying cold water. 



\ 613. The food of Bees consists of the juice (nectar) 

 of llowers, extracted principally from the yellow dust of 

 their thread-like organs, called stamens, which are found 

 in the centre of the blossom. 



