80 



STRUCTURE ADAPTED TO WANTS. 



I want, however, more especially to point out a 

 most beautiful contrivance by which the wings arc 

 made, as it were, of double use. Of course, to fly 

 fast, it is of great importance for an insect to have a 

 large wing ; but then a large wing, in the bee's case, 

 would be very much in the way in the crowded hive, 



Wing — iTiagnified — showing hoolvlets, 



and when not in use. This difficulty is, however, 

 partly got over by the bee having a second wing on 

 each side, for, when both are spread together, there is 

 a larger extent to resist the air, and so give power of 

 progress. 



But then, if this were all, as both wings beat the 

 air together, the air, as we can easily understand 

 would pass between them, and so half the power 

 would be lost ; just as it would be with the sail of a 



