BRITISH HIVE-BEE. 333 
merely an individual, to survive, and must thus have greatly 
assisted in the evolution of sociality. 
External features.—The body shows the usual division into head, 
thorax, and abdomen, and varies considerably in the three different 
types, being smallest in the workers. It is entirely covered with hairs, 
some of which are sensitive, while others are used in pollen-gathering, etc. 
The head bears antennz, - 
which are composed of a long # 
basal and numerous smaller 
joints. They are marvellously 
sensitive, serving to communi- 
cate impressions, and also con- 
taining organs of special sense. 
A pair of compound eyes, largest 
in the drones, and three median 
ocelli, are also present in the 
head region. Of the other 
appendages of the head, the 
mandibles are in the workers 
very powerful, and used for 
many purposes connected with 
comb - building. In the first 
maxille the maxillary palps are 
aborted, and the appendage con- 
sists of an undivided lamina at 
each side, borne on a basal piece 
consisting as usual of’ stipes 
and cardo. The second pair of 
maxillee form as usual the labium 
or so-called lower lip, and are 
much modified. The united 
basal joints form the mentum 
and sub-mentum. From the 
mentum at either side springs Fic. 178.—Head and mouth parts 
the long labial palp, which re- of bee.—After Cheshire. 
presents the outer fork of the a., Antenna; ., mandible; g., labrum or 
typical appendage. The endo- epipharynx; #7x.., rudiment of maxil- 
podite at each side is divided iy Pale gig apne tenes ies 
into two parts, but the inner two The parabltees ie couvecied berwees thie 
(lacinize) are united, much elon- basal portions of the labial palps and 
gated, and form the tongue or _ the ligula. 
ligula of the bee. The outer 
halves form the paraglossee, which are closely apposed to the base of 
the ligula. It is the great elongation of the ligula and labial palps 
which especially fits the bee for nectar-gathering. The three structures 
can be closely apposed to one another, and then form an air-tight tube, 
up which, by the action of the stomach, nectar is sucked. In many 
of our British bees the ligula is much shorter, and more or less trowel- 
like in shape, and is then used largely, as in wasps, in the operation of 
plastering the nest. In such cases the bee can only suck those flowers 
