242 THE NORTHERN MICROSCOPIST. 
the size of the sac lying behind it? It would seem that the bee 
has perfect control of this rod, that it is remarkably elastic, and 
capable of much extension and contraction ; the rod and sac thus 
acting as a suction and force pump, as will be easily understood by 
one familiar with the parts. 
Of course I cannot say that the bee makes this use of it, but I 
do say it should, and if it does not, it is pure stupidity on its part. 
And if some one demonstrates that I am all wrong now, evolution 
at no distant day will set me right, for there will be born a bee, less 
conservative, that will dare defy old usages, and take a new de- 
parture ; that bee, trust me, will make use of this cunningly-devised 
apparatus, and produce honey cheaper than any competitor, ex- 
cepting the glucose man, and I hope and trust may worry even 
him. 
{Many celebrated entomologists, especially Europeans, assert 
that the tongue of the bee is solid, and essentially a “ lapping” 
organ. Others, with equal confidence, pronounce it a “ hollow 
sucking tube.” Whatever may be the true construction of the 
tongue, one fact is certain and easy of demonstration, viz.: bees 
both suck and lap their food. To show this, first attract the bees 
by exposing some honey in an open vessel, and, having secured 
their attention, remove the dish, and substitute in its place a pane 
of glass with a single small drop of honey upon it. Invert the glass 
so as to observe the bees from the upper side. At first they will 
be seen to insert the ends of their tongues into the drop, and suck 
with the pulsating motion of abdomen and tongue referred to by 
Cook (p. 118). Then, as soon as the supply of honey is so far ex- 
hausted that sucking is impracticable, they may be readily seen to 
lap up the remainder, wiping their long tongues, fully extended, 
over the glass until every particle of it is secured. 
In Mr. Hyatt’s article in the Quarterly, he doubts whether there 
is any connecting membrane, but that such a membrane does really 
exist, may be seen by killing a bee while in the act of sucking, and 
carefully pressing the thorax when the rod will be thrown out, and 
the membrane disclosed to the naked eye. Owing to its extreme 
thinness and delicacy, however, it is next to impossible to show it 
in a mounted specimen. Mr. Folsom’s section was made from the 
tongue of a bee which died naturally with the rod out, and required 
no manipulation.—Joun D, WuirTE. | 
OUR BOOK SHELF. 
Portfolio of Drawings and Descriptions of Living Organisms 
sent out by THomas Botton, F.R.M.S., 57, Newhall-street, Bir- 
mingham. No. 5. 
