36 ON THE ANATOMY OF 



palpi, of very diminutive size, but having the same 

 office to perform as those situated at the base of the 

 ligula. The whole of the apparatus is capable of 

 being doubled up by means of an articulation or joint 

 in the middle. The half next the lip bends itset* 

 inwards, and lays itself along the other half which 

 stretches towards the root, and both are folded 

 together, within a very small compass, under the 

 head and neck. The whole machinery rests on a 

 pedicle, not seen in the figure, which admits of its 

 being drawn back or propelled forwards to a con- 

 siderable extent. The celebrated naturalist, Ray, 

 whose knowledge of the minutiae of insect anatomy 

 was but slender, " was/' Kirby remarks, " at a loss 

 to conceive what could be the use of the complex 

 machinery of the proboscis. We who know the 

 admirable art and contrivance manifested in the con- 

 struction of this organ, need not wonder, but we 

 shall be inexcusable if we do not adore." * 



The TRUNK of the Bee, or Thorax, (Wood-Cut, 

 p. 31, fig. 2, a.) approaches in figure to a sphere, 

 and is united to the head by a pedicle or thread-like 

 ligament. It contains the muscles of the wings and 

 legs. The former consist of two pair of unequal 

 size, and are attached to each other by slender hooks, 

 easily discernible through a microscope, and thereby 

 their motion, and the flight of the insect, are rendered 

 more steady. Behind the wings, on each side of the 

 Trunk, are situated several small orifices, called 

 stigmata or spiracles, through which respiration is 

 effected. These orifices are connected with a system 

 * Monographia Apura Angliae, II. 342. 



