40 HYMENOPTERA. 



the insects of this order, and is sometimes armed 

 with strong jaws, calculated for gnawing and 

 biting with considerable force. Most of them, 

 in the room of jaws, have a sort of trunk, with 

 which they extract the honeyed liquor from 

 flowers, or fruits. This organ is very apparent 

 in some genera, but in others it is very minute. 

 It should be noticed that, independent of two 

 large, reticulated eyes, the Hymenoptera have 

 on the upper part of the head, three little shining 

 specks or stemmata, probably placed there for 

 the purpose of sight, and disposed in a triangle. 

 We observe some insects of this order that have 

 no wings, and which never obtain any. Such 

 are to be found in the genus Formica and Mu- 

 tilla ; but then they are the neuters, or mules ; 

 the males and females are never wingless. 



