BEES TONGUE AND GLANDS CONNECTED WITH IT. 241 
coming from the thorax the spiral ducts of two glands, which will 
be found, on following back, lying one on each side of the ceso- 
phagus, in the space between the muscles of the wings. 
At the base, the duct enlarges into quite a reservoir. The ducts 
unite within the neck, or just as they enter the head, and following 
the floor of the latter, are joined by a pair coming in right and 
left. Following up one of these side glands, we find it dividing 
into three main branches, ultimately terminating in glands; the 
glands from the thorax bear a striking resemblance to the Mal- 
pighian tubules of insects, while those from the head are larger, 
different in shape, and composed of much smaller cells. Keeping 
to the floor of the head, the main duct passes on to the sub-men- 
tum. Here, on joining the spiral tube coming from the ligula, it 
passes by an opening common to both into the mouth. Below 
the opening the spiral tube dips into the mentum and is imbedded 
in its muscles. 
A series of cross sections shows it to gradually widen to near 
the base of the ligula, where it terminates in a chamber that leads 
above into the sac, and below by a valvular opening into the groove 
in the rod. 
Thus we have a passage from the tip of the ligula through the 
groove in the rod, and the spiral tube in the mentum to the open- 
ing in front of the pharynx, above the labium and between the 
mandibles. This opening is transverse, and seems to have lips, 
and from its appearance we should expect it to close like a valve, 
if suction was applied below. 
Meeting this tube from the ligula, and discharging its contents 
through the same opening into the mouth, is the spiral duct from 
the glands of the head and thorax. 
The questions are at once thrust upon us, whence comes this 
structure? and of what use is it to the bee? IfI were wise the 
article would end here; but our inclination to explain everything 
by resorting to speculation, is always strong, in the absence of facts 
to curb it. It seems but natural from the size, position, and out- 
let of the glands, connected as they are with an inlet for the nectar 
of flowers, to conclude that they are organs that furnish the animal 
secretion that changes nectar into honey, and I would venture the 
suggestion that they may be the spinning glands of the larvee modi- 
fied. If this is true, I should expect to find them either in an active 
or aborted condition in nearly all Hymenoptera. 
Another question raised is, in what way is nectar carried from 
the flower to the mouth? ‘This must be, from the nature of the 
case, largely a matter of speculation. Prof. Cook, in his article, 
says, ‘The tongue is also retracted and extended rythmically while 
the bee is sipping.” May not this motion be due to a pumping 
action of the grooved rod of the ligula, that enlarges and diminishes 
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