2l8 BEES AND BEE-KEEPING. 



multitudinous air tubes that they may be pulled off, 

 as a rind from an orange. The sac itself (Fig. 43) is 

 now seen to have beautifully transparent sides, giving 

 faint indications of originating in coalescing cells, but 

 having no discernible structure, except near its outlet, 

 where it has an epithelial lining. Through its sides, 

 if the queen is unimpregnated, we discern only a per- 

 fectly clear fluid.* But should the queen have recently 

 mated, the whole interior is densely clouded and semi- 

 opaque, since it is perfectly filled with spermatozoa, 

 which are recognised at once as identical with those 

 previously found in the drone, and from whom they 

 have been received and packed by a process we 

 can only understand hereafter ; but, as older and 

 yet older queens are operated upon, the sperma- 

 tozoa decrease in number, but, instead of being 

 generally diffused, are gathered into a tolerably com- 

 pact mass, which lies in contact with the aperture 

 (c, Fig. 43), the remainder of the sac being occupied 

 with a transparent liquid, as in virgin queens. The 

 countless multitude of spermatozoa is arranged in a 

 definite manner, resembling a collection of long tresses 

 (b) combed out after recent plaiting, and as indicated in 

 the Figure. The extremities of the motile threads point 

 towards the aperture, while, from their upper surface, 

 spermatozoa are observed to rise in different spots 

 (d, d), like microscopic eels, long and thin, curling and 

 twisting with much grace, as they hold on by their 



* Langstroth, m notes at pages 126 and 213 of his book, tells us Leidv 

 found a granular fluid, and Leuckart one that was clear. Leidv is 

 certainly m error; while neither of these observers made in any true 

 sense, a dissection of the parts, since they merelv crushed the sperma- 

 theca flat, and examined the escaping matter. 



