Mr. Hunter’s Observations on Bees. 191 
punctures that had the fluid from the first -described bags in 
them grew sore and inflamed, while the others did not. From 
the stings having serrated edges, it is seldom the bees can 
disengage them ; and they immediately upon stinging en- 
deavour to make their escape, but are generally prevented, as 
it were caught in their own trap ; and the force they use com- 
monly drags out the whole of the apparatus for stinging, and 
also part of the bowels ; so that the bee most frequently falls a 
sacrifice immediately upon having effected its purpose. Upon 
a superficial view, one conceives, that the first intention of 
the bee having a sting is evident ; one sees it has property to 
defend, and that therefore it is fitted for defence; but why it 
should naturally fall a sacrifice in its own defence, does not so 
readily appear: besides, all bees have stings, although all 
bees have not property to defend, and therefore are not under 
the same necessity of being so provided. Probably its having 
a sting to use, was sufficient for nature to defend the bee, 
without using it liberally; and the loss of a bee or two, when 
they did sting, was of no consequence; for it is seldom that 
more die. 
I have now carried the operations of a hive, or the oeconomy 
of the bee, completely round the year ; in which time they re- 
volve to the first point we set out at, and the continuance is 
only a repetition of the same revolutions as I have now 
described : but those revolutions occasion a series of effects in 
the comb, which effects in time produce variations in the life of 
the hive. Besides, there are observations that have little to 
do with the oeconomy of a year, but include the whole of the 
life of this insect, or at least its hive. 
