232 



THE HIVE AND HONEY-BEE. 



tional supply of food. Its augmented size exposing it to 

 attacks from surrounding foes, the wary, insect fortifies 

 its new abode with additional strength and thickness, by 

 blending with the filaments of its silken covering a mix- 

 ture of wax and its own excrement, for the external 

 barrier of a new gallery,* the interior and partitions of 



which are lined with a smooth surface of white silk, which 

 admits the occasional movements of the insect, without 

 iojury to its dehcate texture. In performing these opera- 

 tions, the insect might be expected to meet with opposi- 

 tion from the bees, and to be gradually rendered more 

 assailable as it advanced in age. It never, however, 

 exposes any part but its head and neck, both of which 

 are covered with stout helmets, or scales, impenetrable to 

 the sting of a bee, as is the composition of the galleries 

 that surround it." — ^Bevan'. 

 ■The wonn is here given of full size, and with all its 

 peculiarities carefully repre- 

 sented. The scaly head is 

 shown in one of the worms; 

 while the three pairs of claw- 

 like fore legs, and the five pairs 

 of hind ones, which are suckers, are clearly delineated. 

 The tail is»also furnished with two of these suckers. The 

 breathing holes are seen on the back. 



* This representation of the web, or gallery of the Tronn, waa copied from 

 Swammerdam. 



