36 



PHYSIOLOGY OF THE HONEY-BEI!. 



"The action of the sting," says Paley, "affords an example 

 of the union of chemistry and mechanism; of chemistry, in re- 

 spect to the venom which can produce such powerful effects; of 

 mechanism, as the sting is a compound instrument. The ma- 

 chinery would have been comparatively useless, had it not been 

 for the chemical process by which, in the insect's body, honey 



Fig. 18. 



THE STING OF THE WOEKEE BEE, AND ITS APPENDAGES. 



(Magnified. After Barb8.) 

 a, sting; b, poisou-sacli ; c,c, poison glands; d,d, secreting bags. 



