8i4 



Home Nature-Study Course. 



show all of the objects mentioned except the facets of the compound eyes and the 



structure of the tongue and sting. 

 There are three divisions of the body of the bee, as in all insects. These are 



head, thorax and abdomen. The head bears the eyes, antennae and mouth parts. 



(Fig. p. 74, W.) 

 There are three 

 tiny simple eyes 

 situated between 

 the large eyes ; 

 these small eyes 

 are simple, that 

 is, each eye is 

 complete in it- 

 self, while the 

 two large eyes on 

 each side of the 

 head are com- 

 pound, that is, 

 composed of many 

 six-sided eyes. The 

 antenna has two 

 parts and may 

 be plainly seen, 

 one straight joint 

 arising from the 

 face and a longer 

 end portion which 

 is curved and is 

 made up of many 

 tiny joints. There 

 is also a short, 

 round, bead-like 

 joint where the 

 antenna joins the 

 face. With a lens 

 you can see the 

 jaws of the bee 

 folded across each 

 other, like a pair 

 of hooks, and be- 

 low them the 

 tongue, which is 

 a sucking tube 

 and can be ex- 

 tended with a pin 



if the specimen is not too brittle. (Fig. p. 74, X) The length of the tongue 



is very important as upon this depends the ability of the bee to get nectar 



from deep flowers. 



Legs and antenna of the honey bee (original drawn by A. G. Hammar). 



The Honey Bee II. — A, outer surface of hind leg showing the 

 nine segments and claws; pb, the pollen basket of tibia; B, 

 inner surface of part of hind leg; wp, wax-pincers, pc, pollen- 

 combs; C, inner surface of part of hind leg of queen; D, inner 

 surface of part of hind leg of drone; E, part of middle leg of 

 worker; s, spur; F,part of fore leg showing the antenna cleaner 

 a; G. part of antenna showing sense-hairs and sense-pits. 



