WASP-FLOWERS 55 



As they recover they stagger about in a 

 feeble and tipsy manner absurdly suggest- 

 ive of the members of a higher race when 

 in the same unfortunate condition. 



Their misdoings do not prevent their 

 being valuable to the plant world. Prob- 

 ably they are important fertilising agents 

 to all flowers whose nectar their tongues 

 can reach, and it is known that several 

 plants are entirely dependent upon them 

 for cross-fertilisation. 



The tongue of Vespa, the wasp, differs 

 very much in structure from that of Apis, 

 the bee, for the Apis' tongue is modified 

 into a long, sucking proboscis, while the 

 mouth organs of Vespa are not very much 

 specialised. The upper lip folds down 

 and hides the tongue when the latter is 

 at rest. Below the upper lip is a por- 

 tion which consists of a four-parted 

 tongue and two feelers, one on each side. 

 Underneath this are two horny parts, which 

 bear each a feeler. 



