262 HYMENOPTERA. 
Mother, Yes, much in the same way. 
If the person, who is stung, has patience 
and resolution to wait quietly till the 
bee disengages its sting, the wound is 
not nearly so painful^ as when it is left 
sticking in the flesh. 
Lucy, But how can the bee pull it 
out ? for you know the barbs fasten it in 
the flesh. 
Mother. The bee has the power of 
closing the barbs flat to the side of the 
stings, by which means it can gently 
draw them out, and replace them within 
the sheath ; but if it is suddenly driven 
away, before it has time to do this, the 
sting remains, and with it the bag of 
venom, as well as part of the intestines, 
n consequence of which the bee dies. 
Lucy, If bees but seldom use their 
stings, for what purpose are they pro- 
vided with them ? 
Mother, They serve for defence : bees 
have many enemies, to which they would 
fall an easy prey, if unprovided with any 
weapon of defence. 
