INTRODUCTORY. 9 



even this humble little insect has been provided with 

 contrivances necessary for the fulfilment of its task in 

 creation. The same observation applies also to those 

 instruments situated at the mouthy that aid it in the 

 construction of its honeycomb. There you will dis- 

 cover powerful toothed shears (PI. V. fig. 1, b b) for 

 clipping and sawing, as well as trowel-shaped blades 

 (PI. V. fig. 1, c c) for plastering and moulding the wax 

 and propolis; and in these operations it is also as- 

 sisted by the long delicate tongue (PI. V. fig. 1, d d), 

 wherewith it roUs the thin riband-like bands of wax 

 that serve it in the construction of its cell- walls : nor 

 must we forget those remarkable claw-shaped pincers 

 (PI. VI. figs. \,e, & 3), situated upon the extremity of 

 its feetj with which it manipiilates the various mate- 

 rials needed in its industrial occupations. Thus you 

 see that the experienced little artisan is provided with 

 every implement requisite for the prosecution of its 

 calling, and for the performance of what we shall 

 hereafter find to be no easy task. 



Having thus drawn your attention to a few points 

 of interest connected with the habits and structure 

 of the Bee, we shall conclude these brief introductory 

 remarks by referring to a phenomenon in its history 

 to which we find no parallel in nature ; and this time, 

 reader, you may arm yourself with an ample stock of 

 scepticism. 



. Suppose we were to place in your hand the newly- 

 laid egg of a fowl, and to put the question, "Will 

 the chick that is to be hatched from this egg be a 



b5 



