The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-10-24
The Honey Bee.

Nowhere in the working OF natural law in
the lower order do We see more wonderful
exhibitions OF instinct, nearly approaching
10 Intelligence, than IN the common honey
bee. This little creature is truly 'fearfully
and wonderfully made"
Take. for instance, the feet of the common
working bee. They exhibit at one and the
same time basket, brush and a pair OF
pincers. One OF these articles, indeed, is a
brush Of extreme fineness, the hairs OF which
arranged in symmetrical rows are only to be
seen with the microscope
With this brush OF fairy delicacv. the bee
continually brushes its velvet robe to remove
the pollen dust. with which IL becomes load
eel while riiiing the flowers and sucking up
their nectar
Another article, which is followed like a
spoon. receives all the gleanings which the
insect carries 10 the hive. IL Is panier for
provisions. Finally, by opening sthem one
upon another by means of hinge, these two
pieces become u pair OF pincers which render
important service in the construction of the
combs, and il is with them that the bee lays
hold OF the semiciIcles of wax below its abdo-
men, and carries them 10 its mouth
The mechanism of the sting is no less ex-
traordinary. This weapon consists of a sheath
inclosing two needle-shaped darts of exceed
ing fineness, placed side by side.
Toward the point they are armed with
minute teeth like those OF a saw, whence il
happens that the bee is sometimes unable n
withdraw this Iii tie iavelin from the enemy
il has pierced, for so powerful is the impetus
OF The sting that il will pierce even the thick
human skin the Twelfth OF an inch deep.
When the sting makes the wound, the acrid
poison is squeezed in from the bag near its
base, the structure and process being nearly
identical with those OF the poison faEgs of
seTptnts. Only the female and the neuters
of working bees have these formidable wea-
pODs. the males drones being defenseless
Let us glance at some of the exhibitions of
wisdom shown by these little fellows which
make such a buzziDg through our gardens
and hedges, and stand among all the insects
as the nearest friends .and famtliars Of man.
When an enemy little TO be dreaded sneaks
into a hive OF bees, the first sentineis that see
it pierce il with their stings, aud in the
tWinkling OF an eye the corpse is tossed out
The work is not interrupted Tor q moment
Rut II the iDtrader is big strong slug or
worm, al the workers are thrown into agita-
ton. Tbes all rally and pierce the enemy
with a hundred StingS. But what is to be
done with such heavy body?
The little feet OF all the tribe would not
suffice to stir the corpse. and the narrow
door of the hive would not allow il to pass.
Its putrid orders would, however soon in
feet the colony, and develop the germ uf
some malady?
How are they to escape from this danger
The little republicans take counsel, and
come suddenly to just such a resolution as
they would have done if they had thorough
ly known one Of the arts Of ancient Egypt.
As under the Pharaohs men embaImel
the corpse OF animals-ather with a relig
ious view. or to preserve themselves from
decay-sO ali the bees now set 10 work to en-
balm the dead animal, the presence of
which is menace 10 thar.
Fer this ppr~-.l. ~. ,..--t.~s s.o,,a- ,her,.
sAlrs- rs nc =: - - =. =, 81
the resinous matter which clings TO the slds,
for this IS HhatTePlaces the essen ces and aloes
used by the undertakes of the Nile.
The bees closely enyelOp the dead teIsy
with this in the form OF little illets, and de-
POsit all around it a thick. solid Layer, which
preserves IL from putrefaction,