Account of the Working Bee. 8x 
is biggeft at the root, and tapers gradually to- 
wards the point, which is extremely {mall and 
{harp ; and when examined by the microfcope, 
appears to be polifhed exceedingly {fmooth.*. 
{tis hollow within, like a tube, that the veno- 
mous liquor may pafs through ic, when it 
{trikes any animal, which it does the very in- 
{tant that the {ting pierces the fkin, and infi- 
nuates itfelf into the wound; which proves 
mortal to many {mall animals, as well as to the 
bee herfelf, when fhe leaves her fting in the 
wound ; as it draws after it the bladder, and 
fometimes part of the entrails of the bee. 
_Thefe working bees may be faid to compofe 
the whole community, except in the feafon of 
the drones, which hardly lafts three months. 
During all the other nine months, there are no 
other bees in the hive, except them and the 
Queen. The whole labour of the hive is per- 
formed by them. They build the combs, col- 
le&t the honey, bring it home, and ftore it up 
in their waxen magazines. They rear up the 
eggs, to produce young Queens, common bees 
and drones ; they carry out all incumbrances 
that are in the hives; they defend the com- 
munity againft enemies of every kind, and 
kill all the drones. 
L CHAP. 
