94 MANUAL OP THE APIART. 



it. The latter function is performed by the claws at the end 

 of the tarsi. • 



The worker bees possess an organ of defense, which they 

 are quick to use if occasion demands. This organ is straight, 

 not curved, as is the sting of the queen. The poison, which 

 is emitted in stinging and which causes the severe pain, is an 

 acid fluid, which is secreted by a double gland, and stored in 

 a muscular sack (Fig. 25, c), which is about the size of a flax- 

 seed. This sack is connected by a tube (Fig. 25, m) with the 

 reservoir of the sting. The sting is a triple organ consisting 

 of three sharp hollow spears, which are very smooth and of 

 exquisite polish. If we magnify the most beautifully 

 wrought steel instrument, it looks rough and unfinished ; 

 while the parts of the sting, however highly magnified, are 



Fig. 24. 



Anterior Leg of Worker, magnified. 



smooth and perfect. The true relation of the three parts of 

 the sting was accurately described by Mr. J. R. Bledsoe, in 

 the American Bee Journal, vol. 6, page 29. The action 

 in stinging and the method of extruding the poison, is well 

 described in a beautifully illustrated article, by Mr. J. D. 

 Hyatt, in Vol. I, No. 1, of "American Quarterly Microscopi- 

 cal Journal." The larger of the three awls (Fig. 25, a), 

 usually, though incorrectly, styled the sheath, has a large 

 cylindrical reservoir at its base (Fig. 25, s) which is entirely 

 shut off from the hollow (Fig. 25, h) in the more slender part 

 of the awl, which latter serves no purpose whatever, except 

 to give strength and lightness. 



The reservoir connects at its base with the poison sack, and 

 below, by a slit, with the opening (Fig. 25, n) made by the 

 approximation of the three awls. The other two awls (Fig. 

 25, B, B, b), which we will call lancets, are also hollow (Fig. 

 25, I, i). They are barbed (Fig. 25, u, V, u) much like a 

 fish-hook, except that there are eight or ten barbs, instead of 

 one. Five of the barbs are large and strong. These barbs 

 catch hold and cause the extraction of the sting when the 



