426 * 
BEE. 
derably lessens the pain. The sheath is likewise 
finely pointed, and makes the first wound, which is 
succeeded by the injection of the darts and poison- 
ous liquor. Some strong muscles are connected 
with this sheath, which contribute to its disengage- 
ment from the wound ; but when it has been 
plunged too deep, these muscles are torn from the 
body of the bee, and remain with the sting. The 
liquor which she at the same time infuses into the 
wound causes great pain attended with a swelling, 
which continues several days ; but this may be pre- 
vented if the sting be immediately drawn out, and 
the puncture enlarged to give free vent to the ve- 
nomous matter. 
As this is a highly curious subject, we shall add 
the celebrated Mr. John Hunter’s anatomical ob- 
servations on the sting of the bee. “ I have ob- 
served,” says this gentleman, <c that it is only the 
queen and the labourers that have stings ; and this 
provision of a sting is perhaps as curious a circum- 
stance as any attending the bee, and probably is one 
of the characters of the bee tribe. 
“ The apparatus itself is of a very curious con- 
struction, fitted for inflicting a wound, and at the 
same time conveying a poison into that wound. 
The apparatus consists of two piercers, conduct- 
ed 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 
