THE BEE. 



which receives and digests the food of the bee. It wob formerly 

 supposed that the wax of the bee was the pollen elaborated in 

 the stomach and afterwards ejected by the mouth. Dr. John 

 Hunter, however, discovered two small pouches in the lower 

 part of the abdomen; and it was found that the wax was 

 derived from the saccharine matter consumed by the bee, and 

 that it is secreted from vessels on the surface of these pouches 

 After the wax has remained there for a time, it appears exter 

 nally in scales, eight in number, below the medial rings of the 

 abdomen, and is removed by the bee itself, or one of its fellowa 



Lastly, we come to the sting of the bee. There can be littl* 

 doubt that many people are deterred from keeping bees through 

 fear of acquaintance with the potent little spear constantly borne 

 by them. On the principle, however, that he who gathers roses 

 must risk a brush with a thorn, so must he who covets the bee's 

 honey make up his mind to bear the penalty if, once in a while, 

 the thrifty little creature gets provoked to avenge the robbery to 

 the extent of its powers. Besides, as with the rose-bush so with 

 the beehive, you may at first be awkward with your pets, and 

 often give mortal offence when it was your attention to confer a 

 kiudness ; but, patience and careful observance of a few set rules, 

 and of the temper of your armed proteges, you will by-and-by 

 gather the sweets with impunity and without fear of encounter- 

 ing the sours. 



The sting of a bee affects people differently. Some will suffer 

 no more pain, and exhibit no more alarming symptoms, than 

 though they had been pricked with a pin ; while with others, 

 the sting of a serpent would not produce more fiightfal re- 

 sults. If their finger be stung, straightway their hand, then 

 their fore-arm, begins to puff and swell, and, finally, the entire 

 limb is brought tr double its natural bulk, and the patient, es- 

 pecially if it be the first time that he has been served so, is 

 anytiiing but comfortable. There is, however, little fear of a 

 bee-sting so long as it is external; as, of course, it is in a 

 thousand instances to one where it is not. Bees, however, 

 have ere now been introduced into the mouth through lying 

 concealed in the crevices of ripe fruit, and, in their trepidation, 

 have stung the fruit-eater's throat, so that it has rapidly swollen 

 and stopped his breath. 



Butler, who lived and wrote more than a hundred years ago, 

 gives a few quaiat hints to bee-keepers, which, though of some- 

 what coarse texture, and suited to the rough times in which 

 they were penned, are still as applicable as ever : — " If thou 



