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31 ON THE ANATOMY OF THE HONEY-BEE.

Honey-Bee, Apis mellifica, is of the order Hymenoptera, or that of insects having four membranaceous wings. Its anatomic structure presents, even to the superficial observer, striking evidences of design in the All-wise Contriver, and of the admirable adaptation of its parts to their several uses.

The body of the insect is about half an inch long, of a blackish-brown colour which deepens with age, and is wholly covered with close-set hairs, which assist greatly in collecting the farina of flowers. (Wood-cut, Fig. 2.)