Tongue of the Hojiey-Bee. 293 



When a section of the rod is removed from the hairy sheath, it 

 will present the form shown in Fig. 3 ; but this form varies some- 

 what in different parts of the rod, being nearly square in outline 

 near the apex, while the walls decrease in thickness with a cor- 

 responding increase in the size of the groove {/) towards the 

 base. 



By reference to Fig. 2, which represents a transverse section of 

 the tongue near the middle of its length, it will be seen that the 

 two folded edges of the sheath which meet in front of the open 

 groove of the rod, are pressed closely back upon themselves, the 

 ends (/), which are covered with fine colorless hairs, recurving 

 gracefully over on each side. This folding and recurving will be 

 better understood by reference to Fig. 4, in which the folded 

 edges are shown slightly separated, the colorless rod being re- 

 moved. The space occupied by these curved ends, Mr. Chambers 

 represents as entirely vacant, whilst those spaces really vacant 

 on each side of the rod, he represents as filled with the " mem- 

 branous sack." 



The figures in the plate are drawn with the aid of the camera, 

 precisely as seen under the microscope ; Fig. 2 being enlarged 

 300 diameters. The canal (^) is therefore about ^^^^ of an inch 

 in diameter. 



Concerning the food of bees and the precise manner in which 

 solid and fluid aliments are conveyed to the oesophagus, 1 will 

 only add that my conclusions as to the structure of the tongue 

 prove that the inferences of those who have supposed it to be a 

 ^' solid lapping organ " are far from right, and on the other hand 

 the evidence is equally explicit in showing that neither the rod 

 nor the hairy sheath is a tube. Taken together, however, they not 

 only form a tube, but an elastic, muscular sucking instrument, in 

 every way adapted to the purpose of imbibing fluids. 



It is not a little curious that the two parts which make this tube 

 are so entirely different in form from the two half-cylinders form- 

 ing the proboscis of lepidopterous insects ; but the unity of plan 

 in the two cases is very apparent. 



Undoubtedly much yet remains to be learned respecting the 

 anatomy, not only of the bee, but of many other insects. More 

 important results, however, are to be expected from new methods 

 of examination than from any amount of perseverance in those 

 heretofore pursued. 



