174 INSECT MJSCELLANiES. 



and spread out on either side, and the tongue stretch- 

 ed out to its greatest elongation. The latter is seen 

 to terminate in a sort of button, fringed with a 

 circle of hairs, as are the rings of the tongue (above 

 forty in number) to its very base. These hairs are 

 no doubt intended to brush off and secure the honey 

 which is found in the cups of flowers, and a more 

 efficient and beautiful instrument we could not con- 

 ceive. 



The second figure (b) exhibits the under side of 

 the apparatus with the tongue lodged in the sheath, 

 arising from a pivot within the head, and furnished 

 with two muscular levers, by means of which it 

 can be elongated. At the termination, the sheath 

 is furnished with two small divaricating feelers, 

 if we may call them so, consisling of several joints, 

 and covered with a few scattered hairs, intended, 

 it is probable, to assist its tactile powers, which we 

 may naturally infer are put forth to ascertain whether 

 it may be necessary to unsheath the tongue itself. 



The third figure (c) is a representation of the un- 

 der side of the same apparatus, but with tlie tongue 

 partly inclosed in the inner sheath. At the base the 

 pivot (which is pushed back in the first figure} may 

 be seen advanced by means of the muscular levers, 

 destined to regulate the movements of the tongue. 



It is probable that the bee's tongue is furnished 

 with as many short muscles as the tongue of a fish, 

 which are capable of moving it in all directions. 

 Wildman, indeed, asserts that he has seen it grow- 

 ing bigger and less by turns, swelling as it was 

 exerted in collecting honey ; and this alternate less- 

 ening and enlargement was propagated from the 

 extremity to the root. These varied movements 

 and alterations of form and position are admirably 

 fitted for its visiting every corner of the nectaries 

 of flowers, many of them of such difficult access, 



