6oo 



THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



hairs. Certain other structures entering into the formation of the 

 mouth (e. g., the lip, A, the mandible, D, and the maxillae, C C) almost 

 equal it in length. The cone-fly (Rhingia rostrata), in common with 



many other broad-headed flies, pos- 

 sesses the power of coiling up its 

 proboscis, the length of which is 

 about twelve millimetres (Fig. 11, 

 II-IV). That anterior portion of 

 the cone-fly's head (II) is prolonged 

 forward so as to form a sort of beak 

 (S). When not in use, the proboscis 

 is kept coiled up beneath this pro- 

 Fig. 11. structure or the Mouth of the lonsration. When required, the ex- 



Difteka. I, humble-bee fly ; II-IV, cone- . . ' . 



fly. II, aide view of head, with the pro- tremity of the proboscis IB III) IS 

 bxscis coiled; III, do., the proboscis be- t -i -i -i -ii 



ginning to uncoil; rv, do., completely un- hrst inclined downward, and tne 



coiled. U, eye; F, antennae; S, beak ; . , , , , 



T r, palpi ; b, extremity of proboscis ; organ is next suddenly snot out to 



A, lip ; D, mandible ; 67 (7, maxillae. .^ f ^ ^^ ^^ f nUy extend _ 



ed the proboscis projects far beyond the beak-like anterior portion 

 of the head (IV). The extraction of the honey is effected by means 

 of the cleft tip (B). The cleft extremity is used in sucking. 



We have already seen that many flowers are exclusively visited by 

 Lepidoptera, their honey not being within the reach of insects belong- 

 ing to any other order. Such, for instance, are honeysuckle and privet. 

 Very few flowers, however, are frequented solely by Diptera ; for the 

 length of the proboscis, even in those Diptera in which it is best de- 

 veloped, is attained, if not surpassed, by many of the Hymenoptera 

 (humble-bees, honey-bees, etc.). The latter class, therefore, share with 

 the Diptera the privilege of frequenting certain species of flowers. We 

 shall now pass on to consider them for a little. 



Of all insects the Hymenoptera (bees and wasps) are, on account 

 both of their physical structure and their peculiar instincts, the best 

 adapted for the task of extracting and collecting honey from flowers. 

 The species comprised in this order, and more especially the bees, are 

 all characterized by a superior share of intelligence, not only as honey- 

 hunters, but in many other respects. Their mode of living together 

 in large, well-ordered communities, presided over by a queen, has long 

 been a subject of marvel and of study. Out of the wax, which exudes 

 at the joints of the abdominal segments of their bodies, they construct 

 a " comb," consisting of a number of united cells. The cells when fin- 

 ished are filled with honey or "bee-bread," a substance composed of a 

 mixture of honey and pollen. This bee-bread forms the food upon 

 which the young larvae are reared. 



The bees are the greatest promoters of cross-fertilization, not only 

 among the Hymenoptera, but among all insects whatsoever. 



Over two hundred species of our native bees (Apida}) are known 

 as frequenting flowers, the most familiar being the common honey-bee 



