64 Objects for the Microscope. 



CHAPTER II. 



INSECT PARTS. 



TONGUES OF INSECTS. 

 TONGUE OR PROBOSCIS OF HIVE BEE. 



THIS is a common and favourite object in all collections, 

 and very beautiful ; but it should always be one of at least 

 five others in the insect division, in order rightly to appre- 

 ciate and enjoy the exhibition it affords of adaptation for a 

 particular purpose. 



A moderate power gives a view of the whole tongue, so 

 called, which in truth consists of several parts. The habits 

 of the Hive Bee are well known, and need not here be 

 described ; but it is worth observing how beautifully this 

 organ is adapted for gathering the honey which lurks in 

 the deep nectaries of such flowers as the Columbine or 

 Honeysuckle. 



Those strong-looking maxillae are chiefly used as pro- 

 tecting sheaths for the delicately fringed and jointed ligula 

 or tongue, which is stretched forth, having two feelers, 

 called labial palpi, one on each side. These palpi are jointed 

 at the tips, and used for steadying the proboscis in the 

 flower-cup as it laps up the sweetness there. The ligula 

 has forty joints, or more ; the number varies with the 

 species ; you will easily see them with an inch lens. They 

 render it perfectly flexible, as it sweeps round both concave 

 and convex surfaces ; and with a tremulous lapping motion 

 the fluid is drawn up along the hairy channel into the 

 opening valve which protects its throat. There is a knob 

 or kind of button at the tip, which has been falsely supposed 

 to be a perforated sucker. The tip of the tongue is simply 

 cartilaginous, but the base is hollow and capable of inflation 

 to a considerable size. In this hollow part the nectar drawn 

 from the flowers is collected previous to its passing into the 

 honey stomach. 



