Mr. Hunter's Observations on Bees. 189 
Of the Sting of the Bee. 
I have observed that it is only the queen and the labourers 
that have stings ; and this provision of a sting is perhaps as 
curious a circumstance as any attending the bee, and probably 
is one of the characters of the bee tribe. 
The apparatus itself is of a very curious construction, fitted 
for inflicting a wound, and at the same time conveying a poi- 
son into that wound. The apparatus consists of two piercers, 
conducted in a groove, or director, which appears to be itself 
the sting. This groove is somewhat thick at its base, but 
terminates in a point ; it is articulated to the last scale of the 
upper side of the abdomen by thirteen thin scales, six on each 
side, and one behind the rectum. These scales inclose, as it 
were, the rectum or anus all round ; they can hardly be said 
to be articulated to each other, only attached by thin mem- 
branes, which allow of a variety of motions ; three of them, 
however, are attached more closely to a round and curved 
process, which comes from the basis of the groove in which 
the sting lies, as also to the curved arms of the sting, which 
spread out externally. The two stings may be said to begin 
by those two curved processes at their union with the scales, 
and converging towards the groove at its base, which they 
enter, then pass along it to its point. They are serrated on 
their outer edges, near to the point. These two stings can be 
thrust out beyond the groove, although not far, and they can 
be drawn within it ; and, I believe, can be moved singly. All 
these parts are moved by muscles, which we may suppose are 
very strong in them, much stronger than in other animals ; 
