50 



MOUTH OF THE BEE. 



is perceived, extending from the lip to the throat : 

 this is the tongue, and at the pleasure of the bee it 



The Bee's Tongue. 



can be projected forward, either in a straight or curved 

 form, as in figs. 2 and 3. 



I wish much I could exhibit to you some mag- 

 nified drawings in my possession, by which the sin- 

 gular structure of this organ would be illustrated ; 

 but as this is impossible, I must content myself with 

 mentioning, that the tongue in the Coleopterous and 

 Orthopterous orders was apparently of trifling im- 

 portance ; but in the order Hymenoptera, it becomes 

 themost conspicuous and remarkable part of itscurious 

 oral apparatus. The mandibles are powerful, as in the 

 other tribes, but a new and complex piece of mecha- 

 nism has been added. The tongue, furnished with 

 numerous muscles, and protected by sheaths when 



