182 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO 1792. 



the bee. In this last, some of the parts are used as a temporary reservoir, 

 holding hoth that which is for the immediate nourishment of the animal, and 

 also that which is to be preserved for a future day, in the cells formerly descri- 

 bed ; this last portion is therefore thrown up again, or regurgitated. As it is 

 the labourers alone in the common bee that are so employed, we might conceive 

 this reservoir would belong only to them ; but both the queen and males, both 

 in the common and humble bee, have it, as also I believe every one of the bee tribe. 



As the bee is a remarkable instance of regurgitation, it is necessary that the 

 structure of the parts concerned in this operation, and which are also connected 

 with digestion, should be well considered. Ruminating animals may be reckoned 

 regurgitating animals, but in them it is for the purpose of digestion entirely in 

 themselves. But many birds may be called regurgitating animals, and in them 

 it is for the purpose of feeding their young. Crows fill their fauces, making a 

 kind of craw, out of which they throw back the food when they feed their 

 young: but the most remarkable is the dove tribe, who first fill their craw, and 

 then throw it up into the beak of their young. The bee has this power to a re- 

 markable degree, not however for the purpose of feeding the young, but it is 

 the mode of depositing their store, when brought home. In none of the above- 

 mentioned regurgitating animals are the reservoirs containing the food the im- 

 mediate organ of digestion ; nor does the reservoir for the honey in the bee ap- 

 pear to be its stomach. 



The tongue of the bee is the first of the alimentary organs to be considered: 

 it is of a peculiar structure, and is probably the largest tongue of any animal 

 we know, for its size. It may be said to consist of 3 parts respecting its length, 

 having 3 articulations. One, its articulation with the head, which is in some 

 measure similar to our larynx. Then comes the body of the tongue, which is 

 composed of 2 parts ; one, a kind of base, on which the other, or true tongue, 

 is articulated. This first part is principally a horny substance, in which there is 

 a groove, and it is articulated with the first, or larynx ; on the end of this is 

 fixed the true tongue, with its dift^erent parts. These 2 parts of the tongue are 

 as it were inclosed laterally, by 2 horny scales, one on each side, which are con- 

 cave on that side next to the tongue ; one edge is thicker than the other, and 

 they do not extend so far as the other parts. Each of these scales is composed 

 of 2 parts, or scales, respecting its length, one articulated with the other : the 

 first of those scales is articulated with the common base, or larynx, at the 

 articulation of the first part of the tongue, and incloses laterally the 2d part of 

 the tongue, coming as far forwards as ihe 3d articulation : on the end of this is 

 articulated the 2d scale, which continues the hollow groove that incloses the 

 tongue laterally ; this terminates in a point. These scales have some hairs on 

 their edge. 



