APIS MELLIFICA. 171 



hard jaws, the mandibles, situated on the sides of the head at 

 the base of the tongue. These mandibles are directly homolo- 

 gous with the mandibles of the grasshopper. Between the bases 

 of the mandibles is a labrum, and extending from beneath the 

 end of the labrum is a small epipharynx. 



2. With scissors remove the tongue, which is normally carried 

 against the lower surface of the thorax, and transfer it to a 

 watch-glass. It may now be dehydrated, passed into oil of 

 cloves, placed in position on a slide, and mounted in balsam, 

 when it can be studied best, or it may be immediately spread 

 under a cover or between slides in glycerin. 



3. The central portion is the hairy, segmented labium (the 

 hypopharynx of some authors), bearing at its end a little pad 

 called the spoon. The labium is folded lengthwise so as to form 

 a pair of fine ducts which run from tip to base. The arrange- 

 ment is such that the bee may, through blood-pressure, unfold 

 the labium. This probably is an adaptation for cleaning it. 

 Attached to a median rod, the mentum, which forms the base 

 of the labium, is a pair of flattened appendages, the labial palps, 

 that are hinged so that they may be drawn together to inclose 

 the labium and thus form a rather large tube, which is made 

 more complete by means of the remaining pair of flattened 

 appendages, the maxillce. On the outer margin of each maxilla 

 is a small protuberance, the maxillary palp. When sipping 

 from an abundance of liquid the extemporized tube formed by 

 the labial palps and maxillae around the labium is used, the 

 liquid being drawn in by means of the sucking stomach. When 

 the liquid is in very small quantities it is apparently lapped up 

 by the spoon and transferred through the labium. 1 



A figure of the mouth parts is desirable. 



Sting. The sting is to be regarded as a modified ovipositor 

 that is no longer concerned in depositing eggs, but has become 

 a weapon of offense and defense. It is accordingly present only 



1 The comparative study of the mouth parts of a butterfly, horse-fly, 

 house-fly, and mosquito will prove valuable. 



