TONGUE OF BEE. 



669 



a hollow on the upper side of the Labium (Fig. 343, b), but which 

 are capable of being used to make punctures in the Skin of Animals 

 or the Epidermis of Plants, whence the juices may be drawn forth 

 by the proboscis. Frequently, however, two or more of these 

 organs may be wanting, so that their number is reduced from six, 

 to four, three, or two. — In the Hymenoptera (Bee and Wasp tribe), 

 however, the Labrum and the Mandibles (Fig. 344, 6) much 

 resemble those of 



Mandibulate In- Fig. 344. 



sects, and are used 

 for corresponding 

 purposes ; the 

 Maxillae (c) are 

 greatly elongated, 

 and form, when 

 closed, a tubular 

 sheath for the 

 Ligula or 'Tongue,' 

 through which the 

 honey is drawn up : 

 the Labial Palpi (d) 

 also are greatly de- 

 veloped, and fold 

 together, like the 

 Maxilla?, so as to 

 form an inner 

 sheath for the 

 • Tongue ; ' while 

 the 'Ligula' itself 

 (e) is a long taper- 

 ing muscular organ, 

 marked by an im- 

 mense number of 

 short annular divi- 

 sions, and densely 

 covered over its 

 whole length with 

 long hairs (b). It 

 is not tubular, as 

 some have stated, 

 but is solid ; when actively employed in taking food, it is extended 

 to a great distance beyond the other parts of the mouth ; but when 

 at rest, it is closely packed-up and concealed between the Maxillse. 

 "The manner," says Mr. Newport, "in which the honey is 

 obtained when the organ is plunged into it at the bottom of a flower, 

 is by ' lapping, ' or a constant succession of short and quick exten- 

 sions and contractions of the organ, which occasion the fluid to 

 accumulate upon it and to ascend along its upper surface, until it 



a, Parts of the Mouth of Apis mellifica 

 (Honey-bee) : — a, Mentuni ; b, Mandibles ; c, 

 Maxillse ; d, Labial Palpi ; e, Ligula, or pro- 

 longed labium, commonly termed the Tongue : 

 — b, portion of the surface of the Ligula, more 

 highly magnified. 



