24 INTERNAL CONSTRUCTION OF THE BEE. 



state, as it is gathered, and it has acquired the name of bee 

 bread, on the supposition that it formed a part of the suste- 

 nance of the bee, but, so far from its being conducive to the 

 strength and health of the bees during the winter— they will 

 perish, rather than partake of it. In regard to its preven- 

 tion of consumption, as alleged by Huber, we can positively 

 affirm, that it is a disease unknown to the English bees, 

 however prevalent it may be according to the observation of 

 Huber, amongst the Genevese. 



The body of the bee, or the abdominal part is attached to 

 the breast by a kind of thread, and is composed of six scaly 

 rings. The whole body of the bee appears, even to the 

 naked eye, to be covered with a kind of hairy down. Age 

 makes some difference in them, in regard to the colour of 

 the insect ; at its egress from the cell, it is of a greyish hue, 

 but the bee that has been the tenant of a hive for a year or 

 two, is of a dark brown, and the extent of its labour is 

 known by the wear and tear of its wings, which appear torn 

 and fringed. On the breast, and at the roots of the wings, 

 are observed small orifices or pores in the shape of a mouth 

 by which the bee respires, and which are technically called 

 stygmates. The body is covered with six rings lapping over 

 each other like the scales of a fish. The interior consists of 

 four parts— the intestines — the honey bag — the venom ve- 

 sicle—and the sting. The intestines, as in other animals, 

 serve for the digestion of the food, and the retention of the 

 faeces. The honey vesicle, when it is full, is of the size of 

 a small pea, and sufficiently transparent to ascertain the 

 colour of the honey which it contains. 



The vesicle which contains the venom, is at the root of 

 the sting, the latter is hollow like a tube, and at the time of 

 its infliction, the venom passes down it, and is diffused into 

 the wound. The sting is about two lines in length, and is 

 darted into the skin with great violence, by means of certain 

 muscles, which are placed very near to the sting, and are very 



