APIS MELLIFICA. 191 



called the spoon. The labium is folded lengthwise so as to form 

 a pair of fine ducts which run from tip to base. The arrange- 

 ment is such that the bee may, through blood-pressure, unfold 

 the labium. This probably is an adaptation for cleaning it. 

 Attached to a median rod, the mentum, which forms the base 

 of the labium, is a pair of flattened appendages, the labial palps, 

 that are hinged so that they may be drawn together to inclose 

 the labium and thus form a rather large tube, which is made 

 more complete by means of the remaining pair of flattened 

 appendages, the maxillcB. On the outer margin of each maxilla 

 is a small protuberance, the maxillary palp. When sipping 

 from an abundance of liquid the extemporized tube formed by 

 the labial palps and maxillae around the labium is used, the 

 liquid being drawn in by means of the sucking stomach. When 

 the liquid is in very small quantities it is apparently lapped up 

 by the spoon and transferred through the labium. 



A figure of the mouth parts is desirable.^ 



Sting. — The sting is to be regarded as a modified ovipositor 

 that is no longer concerned in depositing eggs, but has become 

 a weapon of offense and defense. It is accordingly present only 

 in the female. The queen never uses her sting except on other 

 queens. 



Remove the dorsal integument of the abdomen of either a 

 fresh or preserved specimen, and find the dark brown shaft of 

 the sting, near the posterior end. Grasp the shaft with a pair 

 of fine forceps and forcibly remove it. A considerable mass of 

 tissue will be removed adhering to the base of the shaft, but this 

 consists for the most part of accessory organs that must be 

 understood. Spread the sting upon a slide, and either dehy- 

 drate and mount in balsam, or mount in glycerin. The balsam 

 mount will prove more satisfactory, but the cover must be 

 clamped down until the balsam hardens. 



1. The shaft consists of three parts: 



(a) A heavy support, called the aivl or sheath, pointed at its 



1 The comparative study of the mouth parts of a butterfly, horse-fly, 

 house-fly, and mosquito will prove valuable. 



