GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS. 35 



tion, wliicli honey presents to man and animals, must have 

 caused the complete destruction of this precious insect, years 

 ago. 



79. This organ is composed, 1st, of a whitish vesicle, or 

 poison sack, about the size of a small mustard seed, located 

 in the abdomen, in which the venomous liquid is stored. This 

 liquid is elaborated in two long canals, similar in appearance 

 to the Malpighian tubes, each of which is terminated at its 

 upper extremity, by a small round bag or enlargement. It 

 is similar to formic acid, although perhaps more poisonous. 



80. 3nd; In the last ring of the abdomen, and connected 

 with the poison sack, is a firm and sharp sheath, open in its 

 whole length, which supports the sting proper, and acts 

 independently of it. The bee can force this sheath out of the 

 abdomen, or draw it in, at will. 



81. 3d, The sting is composed of two spears of a polished, 

 chestnut-colored, homy substance, which, supported by the 

 sheath, make a very sharp weapon. In the act of stinging, the 

 spears emerge from the sheath, about two-thirds of their 

 length. Between them and on each of them, is a small groove, 

 through which the liquid, coming from the poison-sack, is 

 ejected into the wound. 



82. Each spear of the sting has about nine barbs, which 

 are turned back like those of a fish hook, and prevent the 

 sting from being easily withdrawn. When the insect is pre- 

 pared to sting, one of these spears, having a little longer 

 point than the other, first darts into the flesh, and Ijeing fixed 

 by its foremost barb, the other strikes in also, and they alter- 

 nately penetrate deeper and deeper, till they acquire a firm 

 hold of the flesh with their barbed hooks. 



" Meanwliile, the poison is forced to the end of the spears, by 

 much the same process which carries the venom from the tooth 

 of a viper when it bites." — (Girard.) 



83. The muscles, though invisible to the eye, are yet strong 

 enough to force the sting, to the depth of one-twelfth of an 

 inch, through the thick skin of a man's hand. 



