1895 THE MICROSCOPE. 163 



there are three simple eyes which consist of one single 

 lens (fig. 15') surrounded by little bulbous subdivisions 

 of the optic nerve called papilla?. 



The AntenncB. — These, are composed of thirteen 

 joints, the second from the head being much longer than 

 the rest. With the exception of this joint all the seg- 

 ments of the antenna3 are studded with perforations 

 (fig. 8). Bleach one of these with chlorine and examine 

 with a low power. It will be found to be covered with 

 little sacs (fig. 11). Through the center of the antenna 

 the central nerve may be found, and with a high power 

 little fibres may be seen branching from this and con- 

 necting with each of the little sacs, showing that they are 

 organs of sense. Of which sense is not accurately 

 known. Deprive a bee of both antenn^^? and its actions 

 may be compared to those of an insane person. 



The ?nouth. — The oral apparatus of the bee consists of 

 two mandibles, two maxiihx?, two labal palj)i, and a ligula 

 or tongue. Tiie mandibles form the split pointed termi- 

 nation of the head. They may be seen separated at fig. 14, 

 c, and are of a hard, dark, horny substance. They are 

 formed and used much like a pair of toothed pincers. 

 The maxallfe (fig. 14, d) consist of two long pointed 

 blades, much resembling a pair of shears, but along the 

 middle of each blade there runs a longitudinal rib cov- 

 ered with hairs. The blade is thin, transparent, and of a 

 bright straw color, while the back is much thicker and 

 stronger and supported by a series of transverse ribs. 

 These instruments are used for cutting and molding the 

 wax and in this operation they are aided by the ligula. 

 This exquisitely formed instrument is composed of forty 

 or more joints, which can be easily seen with a one-inch 

 objective. These render the tongue perfectly flexible. 

 At the end it is provided with a knob which is cartilag- 

 inous, the base is hollow and capable of inflation to a 

 considerable size. In this hollow the nectar is collected 



