i68 THE LORE OF THE HONEY-BEE 



with the flower-juices automatically, and the first 

 step in the change of the nectar into honey takes 

 place. The third gland is in the roof of the mouth, 

 and it is the secretion from this gland which acts 

 on the regurgitated chyle, and changes it into 

 brood-food. The fourth gland is double. These 

 twin-glands have their openings at the base of the 

 jaws, and the action of chewing is necessary to 

 excite their secretion. 



The valve between the upper, or honey-stomach, 

 and the lower, or chyle-stomach, has an extensible 

 neck, and the bee can, at will, raise this telescopic 

 piece through the interior of the honey-sac until 

 the valve is pressed against the opening into the 

 gullet. Thus the contents of the lower stomach 

 can be driven into the mouth without coming into 

 contact with the stored sweets in the reservoir, 

 and this pre-digested matter is always ready at an 

 instant's notice for the use of the larvae, or for the 

 nourishment of drones or queen. 



It has been said that the nursery- work of the 

 hive is undertaken exclusively by the young bees 

 during the first fortnight or so of their lives. After 

 this time they make their first foraging expedition, 

 beginning with pollen-gathering, and relinquishing 

 this in turn for the collection of nectar when they 

 have arrived at full maturity. The mature workers 

 take no part in the feeding of the larvae, except on 

 very rare emergencies. In relation to this, it is a 

 curious fact that the gland in the roof of the mouth. 



