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$6 NATURAL HISTORY. 
’ ding to its flock of wax; until the ball, upon each thigh, becomes as 
~ "The honey bag is as tranfparent as cryftal, containing the honey tha 
“ fterity. The fubftance with which bees build'their cells is wax ; whi 
: figned ther: thofe that have been at work, being permitted to g? va 
thighs of the hind legs there are two cavities, edged with hair ; and 
into thefe, as into a bafket, the animal fticks its pellets. Thus em 
ployed, the bee flies from flower to flower, increafing its ftore, and ad- 
big as a grain of pepper: by this time, having got a fafficient load, 
‘returns, making the bett of its way to the hive. 
The belly of the bee is divided into fix rings, which fometimes fhot- 
ten the body, by flipping one over the other. It contains within it 
befide the inteltines, the honey-bag, the venom bag, and the fting: 
the bee has brufhed from tie fiowers ; of which the greater part is cat. 
ried to the hive, and potired into the.cells of the honey-comb 5 while 
the remainder ferves for the bee’s own nourifhment: for, during fur 
mer, it never touches what has been laid up for the winter. The {tings 
which ferves to defend this little animal from its enemies, is compofe 
of three parts; the fheath, and two darts, which are extremely fmat 
and penetrating. Both the darts have feveral {mall points or barbs | 
Tike thofe of a fith-hook, which renders the fting more painful,-an¢ 
makes the darts rankle in the wound. Still, however, this inftrumet! 
would be very flight, did not the bee poifon the wound. The theath 
which has a fharp point, makes the firft impreffion ; which is followed 
by that of the darts, and then the venomous liquor is poured in. The 
fheath fometimes fticks fo faft in‘the wound, that the animal is oblige? 
to leave it behind ; by which.the bee foon after dies, and the wound wv 
confiderably inflamed. It might at firft appear well for mankind, * 
the bee were without its fting ; but, upon recollection, it will be foun? 
that the little animal would then have too many rivals in fharing # 
labours.» An hundred other lazy animals, fond of honey, and hatin 
labour, would intrude upon the fweets of the hive ;:and the treafure 
would be carried off, for want of armed guardians to prote@ ‘it. 
From examining the bee fingly, we now-come to confider it in {0° 
ciety, as an animal not only fubjed to laws,. but active, vigilant, labo” 
rious, and’difinterefted. All its provifions are laid up for the comm” 
nity ; attd’all its arts in building a cell, defigned for the benefit of p% | 
is fafliioned into convenient apartments for themfelves and their younS’ 
When they begin to work in their hives, they divide themfelves int? 
four companies: oneof which roves in the fields infearch of materials? 
another employs itfelf in laying out the bottom and’ partitions of the! 
cells; a third is employed in making the infide fmooth from the cor 
ners and angles; and the fourth company bring food for the rely % 
relieve thofe who return with their refpective burthens.. But they eh 
not kept conftant to one employment; they often change the tafks 2” 
Broad ; and 'thofe that have been in the fields already, take their place* 
They feem even to have figns, by which they under®and each ot ae 
for when any of them wants food, it bends down its trunk to the 
ftom whom it is expected, which then opens its honey bag, and }€ 
{ome drops fall into the other’s mouth, which is at that time ope™, 
i receive it. heir diligence and labour is fo great, that, in a 427, 
time, they are able to make cells, which lie upon each other, nue 
yous enough to contain three thoufand bees. . ae 
