150 BEES AND BEE-KEEPING. 



the tracheal tube, a chitinous "stirrup," or crescent- 

 shaped piece, the object of which is to give the 

 insect the opportunity of voluntarily closing the air 

 openings, and this for a before-mentioned reason. A 

 double lever, formed of two irregular and unequal 

 cones, and actuated by an obturator, or closing muscle, 

 and tendon, is so contrived that the contraction of 

 the muscle causes the plugging of the trachea open- 

 ing out of the back of the vestibule. The sound is 

 actually emitted by curtains, somewhat plaited and 

 fringed, formed from folds of the membrane lying 

 behind the edges of the spiracle, and in front of the 

 stirrup and lever. Muscular contractions within the 

 thorax, occasioning the wing vibrations, rapidly puff air 

 in and out, and so start the curtains in producino- 

 that hum, which varies according to their tension, 

 and which may not inaptly be called the bee's voice, 

 since it results from the movements of an apparatus 

 not unlike that of voice in ourselves and the higher 

 animals. 



How many wonders are involved, then, in simple 

 flight ! The floating of the little insect, as it plays in 

 the sunbeam, or the rapid transport of it at plenty's 

 distant call, enabling it to round a thousand corners, 

 and drop with the greatest accuracy into the mouths 

 of countless flowers, with the wafting of it back 

 again to its desired haven, singing, as it goes, from 

 many mouths, is not accomplished without the framino- 

 of a mechanism which is all worthy of our admira- 

 tion, and which has actually excited the envy, whilst 

 it has mocked, and is mocking, the inventiveness 

 and resources, of mankind. 



