The Wings 59 



the species of a bee is determined by slight variations 

 in them. 



On either side of the thorax, at the point of the supposi- 

 tional shoulder-blades, two wings are attached. The points 

 of attachment of the two are very close together, but when 

 the wing is extended, the lesser and hindermost is seen to 

 be placed a little behind the larger and foremost. 



While the double wing, when closed, is a great conven- 

 ience in exploring flowers and moving about the crowded 

 hive, it would be extremely disastrous when set for flight if 

 the lesser and the greater were then to separate. But this 

 they never do, as they are locked together in a very 

 ingenious manner. 



The upper edge of the lower wing bears a row of hooks, 

 the points of which are turned towards the inside. On the 

 lower edge of the upper wing, opposite these hooks, is a 

 fold forming a slender groove into which the hooks catch 

 when the wings are raised. The 

 mere act of raising the wings 

 draws the hooks into the groove 

 and locks them. 



The greater the pressure brought to bear against the 

 surface of these locked wings, the more firmly are they held 

 together, so they are in no danger of coming apart in the 

 most rapid or erratic flight. 



Quickly and safely as the wings are locked into one, they 

 can as easily be separated into two, when lowered against 

 the back in a state of rest. 



The wings do not necessarily come unlocked when 

 lowered, however, and one often sees a captive bee with 

 its locked wings spread over its back, as though it knew 

 that were safe enough under the circumstances, and would 

 not take the trouble to pack them away. But when it 

 enters a flower or its hive, a slight motion of the upper 



