314 NATURE’S CRAFTSMEN 
while they’re safe? ” begged Max, pushing to the 
front. 
“ Not very easily,” was the smiling rejoinder. 
“ It is carried in a sheath, and one needs a micro¬ 
scope for it. But I can describe it to you faith¬ 
fully enough. It is made of two slender shafts, 
about one-half an inch in length, tied tightly to¬ 
gether and forming a keen point sharper than 
the sharpest needle. Each shaft is notched along 
the inner edge in a series of grooves which fit into 
the shaft opposite. When the bumblebee strikes, 
the muscles at the base of the shaft thrust down 
first one side of the shaft, then the other, and the 
notches hold and join. At the base of the spear 
are two poison sacs, which release their poison as 
soon as the notches come together, sending it 
down along a groove on each side of the shaft. 
This poison is severely acid in its nature, and 
causes intense pain and swelling, as Alice will 
testify. Some wise fighting instinct makes the 
bumblebee always strike for the face and espe¬ 
cially for the eyes, reasoning no doubt that if it 
can but blind its enemy, it is fairly sure of saving 
its home from destruction. Moreover, the little 
lance-bearer does not lose its weapon, as does the 
honey bee, and so can strike again and again 
without losing its life.” 
“ Your idea of chloroforming the little warrior 
is a new one to me, my son,” congratulated 
