428 
BEE. 
from simple force applied to one end of a body ; for, 
if this was simply the case, the sting of the bee 
could not be made to pierce by any power applied 
to its base, as the least pressure bends it in any 
direction : it is possible the serrated edges may as- 
sist, by cutting their way in like a saw. 
“ The apparatus for the poison consists of two 
small ducts, which are the glands that secrete the 
poison ; these two lie in the abdomen, among the 
air-cells, &c. ; they both unite into one, which soon 
enters into, or forms an oblong bag, like a bladder 
of urine ; at the opposite end of which passes out a 
duct, which runs towards the angle where the two 
stings meet ; and, entering between the two stings, 
is continued between them in a groove, which forms 
a canal by the union of the two stings to this point. 
There is another duct to the right of that described 
above, which is not so circumscribed, and contains 
a thicker matter, which, as far as I have been able 
to judge, enters along with the other : but it is the 
first that contains the poison, which is a thin clear 
fluid. To ascertain which was the poison, I dipped 
points of needles into both, and pricked the back 
of the hand ; and those 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 endeavour to make their escape, but 
are generally prevented, as it were caught imtheir 
own trap ; and the force they use commonly drags 
