[ 20'9 1 
I 
€ H A P. XXVIIL 
Of the Stings of Insects. 
rp H E fbarp and penetrating Infir aments 
.1 wherewith the Tails of Bees, Wafps, 
Hornets, Ants, and fome other Infedls are 
armed, I diRinguiih by the Name of Stings 
Being Weapons given them by Nature to 
defend themfelves and offend their Enemies: 
whereas the Trunk or Probofcis which Gnats, 
Fleas, Lice, and many other Kinds carry in 
their Mouth, though it may be equally (harp, 
is not intended as an Infhrument of Revenge, 
but for procuring and fucking in their Food; 
and therefore when Rich Creatures bite or 
Ring us, as we term it, we muR not imagine 
•they do fo out of Anger, but from Neceffity. 
Squeeze or Rrike a Bee or Wafp, it inftant- 
ly puts forth its Sting ; but no Provocation 
-can urge a Flea or Gnat to bite : on the 
contrary, when difturbed or hurt, they draw 
In their Probofcis infiead of thru Ring it out, 
and never make ufe of it but when they 
think themfelves perfeblly fafe and quiet. 
There is befides this farther Difference : a 
Sting in]ebis a venomous Liquor into the 
Wound it makes; but a Probofcis fucks of 
draws out the Blood and Humours from it. 
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