THE HONEY-BEE. 
43 
from the drudgery of collecting farina or propolis, 
the posterior pair are without the spoou-like cavity 
found in those of her labouring offspring. When 
about to become a mother, her body is considerably 
swollen and elongated, and her wings in consequence 
appear disproportionally short. The abdomen of the 
queen contains the ovarium, (Plate IV.,) consisting 
of two branches, each of which contains a large as- 
semblage of vessels filled with eggs, and terminating 
in what is called the oviduct. This duct, when ap- 
proaching the anus, dilates itself into a larger re- 
ceptacle into which the eggs are discharged, and 
which is considered by Naturalists as the sperm-re- 
servoir, or depository of fecundating matter ; from 
thence they are extruded by the insect, and depo- 
sited in the cell prepared for their reception. The 
sting possessed by the Queen is bent, while that of 
the worker is straight ; it is seldom, however, brought 
into action, — perhaps only in a conflict with a rival 
queen. 
The male, (PI. 1, fig. 1,) is considerably more 
bulky than the working Bee. The eyes are more 
prominent ; the antennae have thirteen articulations 
instead of twelve ; the proboscis is shorter, the hind- 
legs have not the basket for containing farina, and 
he is unprovided with a sting. The cavity of the 
abdomen is wholly occupied with the digestive and 
reproductive organs. The very loud humming noise 
he makes in flying, has fixed upon him the appella- 
tion of Drone. 
