I38 BEES AND BEE-KEEPING. 



always the same in number on the two sides of the body 

 The posterior wing is, most suggestively, not absolutely 

 flat, but convex above, in the direction of its length, 

 so that its hooklets are held up towards the plait 

 on the anterior wings, the hairs just behind which 

 turn in a direction different from the rest, so that 

 the movements of the hooklets shall meet with no 

 impediment. How well Nature rewards looking into 

 even the smallest matters ! 



A comparison of the sexes is again instructive. 

 The queen is commonly said to have smaller wings 

 than the worker. Yet this is only true relatively, 

 and clearly for the reason that she has much less 

 frequent use for these parts than her ever busy 

 children ; but the drone, lighter than the queen, is 

 endued with that soaring power and rapidity which 

 his function renders necessary, he possessing organs 

 of flight far larger than hers, and which extend 

 beyond the extremity of the ab:Iomen {see Fig. 5). 

 The measurements are given in one-hundredths of 

 an inch. 



Length of Length of Ratios of 



Anterior Wing. Posterior Wing. United Area. 



Worker 38 ■ ... 28 5 



Queen 41 .... 29 6 



Drone 49 .... 35 g 



The remarkable strength and width of the inferior 

 wing of the drone gives an intimation, which 

 observers should keep in sight; for we shall see 

 presently that this enables him to fly backwards with 

 great energy, should such a necessity arise. The 

 relative perfection of the organs is well indicated 

 by the hooklets; and here, again, we rind the drone 



