64 A HALF-HOUR WITH THE 



4,000 of these facets ; and in the cabbage-butterfly 

 17,000. The antennae of the gnat are very beau- 

 tiful ; and, in fact, these organs in insects afford 

 an endless variety of forms. At their base, in the 

 gnat, is seen a round process on which they are 

 seated, and it has been supposed that they are 

 organs of hearing. Whether they are organs of 

 hearing or not, it is very certain that they are 

 organs of touch, and the creature is very sus- 

 ceptible of the slightest stimulus applied to them. 



The head of the honey-bee may be now examined ; 

 and if a careful dissection is made of its mouth, a 

 marvellous apparatus is unfolded to view (Fig. 194, 

 PL 7). At the base is seated the so-called mentum, 

 and on each side are placed the mandibles ; above 

 these, and longer, are the maxilla, and on each side 

 of the prolonged central organ, called the tongue, are 

 placed the labial palpi. The tongue can be retracted 

 between the palpi as into a sheath. It is marked 

 by a series of annular divisions, and, by a high 

 power, will be seen to be covered over with hairs. 

 This is the organ by means of which the bee 

 " gathers honey all the day." 



Whilst examining the bee, its sting may be 

 taken out and placed under a low power, when 

 it will be found to present the appearance of a pair 

 of spears set with recurved barbs, which run half- 

 way down one side of each half of the sting (Fig. 

 193, PL 7). Between these two darts is placed 

 a canal, down which are poured the contents of the 

 poison-bag, producing the painful effects of wounds 

 from these instruments. 



To return to the head and mouth of insects : 

 The tongue of the bee may now be compared with 

 the same organ in the butterflies, which, in them, 

 assumes the form of a proboscis, and is called an 

 haustellum (Fig. 195, PL 7). This instrument is 



