MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS. 255 



opposite the sheath. At the base this sack has a chitinous support (Fig. A, 

 Q Q), and connects through the tube of the nientum with the pharynx, and re- 

 ceives the tube of the rod. It extends nearly if not quite to the end of the 

 sheath, certainly as far as the slit in the latter extends, and is, anteriorly, im- 

 perforate. 



Tlie labial palpi (Fig. 1, A, Jc, h) like the maxillae, are deeply grooved, and 

 when brought close together form a tube whicli also has a membranous con- 

 nection witli tiie mouth opening into the pharynx. 



The paraglossaj are short, leaf-like organs (Fig. 1, A, p, p) with a hollow 

 membranous base, which also connects with the tube of the mentum and the 

 sac of the ligula. 



When not in use the ligula, with the labial palpi and maxillfe, all double 

 back under the head, and the tongue is so retracted that it extends no further 

 than the labial palpi. This shortening of the ligula seems to be effected by 

 drawing the more membranous and less hairy base into the mentum. 



How do bees take liquids into their stomachs? This question, as we have 

 seen, has received various answers. Some have thought that the nectar was 

 drawn through a tube formed by the approximation of the ligula, the palpi, 

 and the maxilla}. Others that suction was the force and the tongue the tube. 

 Still others have believed that the nectar was lapped up by the bees. I hope 

 to be able to show you that all are right. 



Look at a bee through a good lens (1 have used Toll's one-half inch) while 

 sipping honey containing grains of solid matter, and the fine j)articles will 

 often be seen to ascend through the tube formed by bringing the maxilliB to- 

 gether. We have already seen how this liquid passes to the mouth and through 

 this into the pharynx. Or we can color some rather thin honey or syrup by 

 aniline (I have found deep red to be the best), and while the bee is sipping 

 this colored liquid, which it does as eagerly as though the poisonous aniline 

 were not present, cut off its head, which, with a pair of dissecting scissors is 

 done in an instant. Examination plainly shows the track along the channeled 

 maxillai and palpi, even to the mouth, which clearly reveals the path of the 

 liquid. These conduits are much the larger approach to the pharynx ; thus 

 we see why bees take honey so fast when they can get freely at a large quan- 

 tity, and why a few days of good basswood harvest are so fruitful. 



Bees as surely take honey through the triangular rod which is enclosed within 

 the sheath. I have proved this in several ways as follows: 



I have placed honey in fine glass tubes and behind fine wire gauze, so that 

 the bees could just reach it with the funnel at the end of the rod. So long as 

 they could reach it with the funnel so long would it disappear. I have held 

 the bee in my hand, by grasping the wings, while observing it with a good 

 lens. I would gradually withdraw it from the drop of honey, which it would 

 sip so long as the drop was within reach of tlie funnel. I have in such cases 

 seen the red axis when the bee was si|)ping colored syrup. Subsequent exam- 

 ination by dissection revealed the red lujuid still in the tube of tiie rod, clearly 

 showing its course in passing to the pharynx. If we place the tongue with a 

 drop of water on a glass slide and cover witii a tliin glass 'i"d then look at it 

 through the compound n)icroscope, with a magnifying power of eighty diame- 

 ters, we can readily see the liquid pass back aiid forth in the tube as we press 

 witli a pencil on the thin glass covfr. As Mr. Ciuunbers states, this tube at 

 the base of the funnel is only one five-hundredth of an inch in diameter. We 

 now understand why bees are so long in loading their stomachs when gathering 

 from small tubular flowers, as then this minute tube is the only avenue by 



