LAPPING INSECTS, 



175 



that it has been said, by more than one respectable 

 natiirahst, that the bees eat their way into them by 

 means of their jaws. We have only to look at the 

 deeply curved nectaries of larkspur {Delphiuium), 

 or columbine (Aquilegia), to see, in a striking light, 

 this beautiful contrivance of Providential wisdom in 

 the tongue of the bee. 



A, Larkspur (Delphinium choilanthum)^ B, Columbine, (Aqidlegin hico 

 lor) ; sliowing the horn-shaped nectaries. 



The bee can unfold, with great rapidity, its appa- 

 ratus for lapping, and dart it into every part of a 

 flower where it discovers the presence of honey ; and 

 can with equal ease sweep the convex and concave 

 sides of a flower. When it has thus collected a suf- 

 ficient quantity, it is first deposited in a sort of 

 membranous bag capable of considerable inflation, 

 previous to its being swallowed and consigned to the 

 honey-stomach. But no sooner is its office per- 

 formed, than it is as rapidly sheathed as it had been 

 unfolded ; for, in consequence of its length, it would 

 be exposed to injury without this important pro- 



