Fig. 2. Portion of the cornea, showing the lenses, Fig. 3. Section of the eye, showing the arrangement Fig. 4. Simple eyes (stemmata): a, lens, behind which Fig. 5. Portion of cornea, showing circular and hex- Fig. 6. Papillæ, or bulbous expansions of optic nerve PL. V. page 38 Fig. 1. Head of the Bee, mounted for microscopic in- Fig. 2. Antenna: a, the large second joint. 66 Fig. 4. Portion of segment still more highly magni- Fig. 5. Part of the wings: b, anterior wing with bar, PL. VI.. Fig. 1. Hind leg of Worker-bee: a, coxa, or hip; b, tro- Fig. 4. Fore and hind wing with hooklets, h. 46 INDEX TO PLATES. Fig. 5. Anatomy of sting: a, sheath; b, piercers ; Fig. 6. Termination of piercer (of sting) highly mag- PL. VII. nified. XV page 60 Fig. 1. Digestive organs of Bee: a, oesophagus, or Fig. 2. Respiratory and nervous system (the por- Fig. 3. Stigma, or respiratory aperture. Fig. 4. Portion of trachea, or respiratory tube. Fig. 1. Ovaries of Queen-bee in situ: a, narrow ends, Fig. 2. Outline of ovaries, showing (a & b, as above): Fig. 3. Portion of ovary: d, ova arrested in their pro- 102 Fig. 4. Crystals of sugar and honey: a, honey crystal; from Lankester's 'Half Hours with the Mi- croscope.') Figs. 5 & 6. Portion of brood-comb, showing ordinary Fig. 7. Larva of Bee (worker). Fig. 8. Pupa of ditto (ditto). ERRATA. Page 3, line 2, after finding insert it. 9, 15, for figs. 1, e, & 3 read figs. 1, e', & 3. 30, 6 from bottom, for antennæ read antenna. 47, last line but one, for fig. 20 read fig. 2, o. THE HONEY-BEE. CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTORY. Ir would be paying but a poor compliment to those talented authors who have at various times sought to interest and instruct mankind through the publication of works on the natural history of the Common HiveBee, if we were to justify our selection of this insect as the subject of our second little Treatise on Humble Creatures, on the ground that we deemed it necessary for the purpose of rendering it familiar to the popular mind. Hundreds of such works, including several of marked excellence, have been given to the world; but recent improvements in the microscope, and our daily increasing store of physiological knowledge, constantly lead to the revelation of new facts in regard to this and other insects, in addition to those already ascertained; and every day we find old and apparently B well-established theories fading away and giving place to others of a totally different character; so much so, that it may with justice be said that we are still engaged in studying the introduction to this branch of natural science. The Bee, too, is peculiarly adapted not only for the investigation of insect anatomy, but also to aid in that of the progressive mental development of the animal races. Its structure, external as well as internal, is extremely beautiful and complicated, presenting numerous features, suited to its well-known habits of life, that are found in no other creature; and without reference to its wax- and honey-making properties, which render it especially interesting to man, we may add that its highly developed instinctive faculties, which constitute the moving spring of its various natural operations, cause it, in this respect, to hold the first rank in the invertebrate province of the Animal Kingdom; indeed some of its acts, if performed by man instead of by one of the lower animals, would be esteemed little short of miracles. You may perhaps be disposed, reader, to regard this last assertion as somewhat exaggerated; but if you will accompany us in the consideration of a few of the phenomena of Bee-life, you will find that it is fully borne out by well-acknowledged facts. Suppose yourself transported on board of one of those huge American steamers plying up and down the Mississippi, and that, falling short of provisions, you are some fine morning set on shore by the cap |