318 
NATURAL HISTORY". 
of them in a hive of seven or eight thousand bees. The 
third sort are still fewer in number : some assert, that there 
is not above one in every swarm ; but this, later observers 
affirm not to be true, there being sometimes five or six in 
the same hive. These are called queen-bees, and are said to 
lay all the e<ro-s from which the whole swarm is hatched in 
the season. 
In examining the structure of the common working bee, the 
first remarkable part that offers is the trunk, which serves to 
extract the honey from flowers. It is not formed, like that of 
other flies, in the manner of a tube, by which the fluid is to 
be sucked up; but like a besom, to sweep, or a tongue, to 
lick it away. The animal is furnished also with teeth, which 
serve it in making wax, which is also gathered from flowers, 
like honey. In the thighs of the hind legs there are two ca- 
vities, edged with hair ; and into these, as into a basket, the 
animal sticks its pellets. Thus employed, the bee flies from 
flower to flower, increasing its store, and adding to its stock 
of wax ; until the ball upon each thigh becomes as big as a 
grain of pepper : by this time, having got a sufficient load, it 
returns, making the best of its way to the hive. 
The belly of the bee is divided into six rings, which some- 
times shorten the body, by slipping one over the other. It 
contains within it, besides the intestines, the honey-bag, the 
venom-bag, and the sting. The honey-bag is as transparent 
as crystal, containing the honey that the bee has brushed from 
the flowers : of which the greater part is carried to the hive, 
and poured into the cells of'lhe honey-comb : while the re- 
mainder serves for the bee’s own nourishment : for, during 
summer, it never touches what has been laid up for the win- 
ter. The sting, which serves to defend this little animal from 
its enemies, is composed of three parts: the sheath, and two 
darts, which are extremely small and penetrating. Both the 
darts have several small points or barbs, like those of a (ish- 
hook, which render the sting more painful, and make the 
darts rankle in the wound. Still, however, this instrument 
would be very slight, did not the bee poison the wound. The 
sheath, which has a sharp point, makes the first impression; 
which is followed by that of the darts, and then the venomous 
liquor is poured in. The sheath sometimes sticks so fast in 
the wound, that the animal is obliged to leave it behind ; 
by which the bee soon after dies, and the wound is consi- 
derably inflamed. It might at first appear well for mankind, 
if the bee were without its sting: but, upon recollection, it 
will be found that the little animal would then have too many 
rivals in sharing its labours. An hundred other lazy animals, 
