112 Physiology of Bee’s Tongue. 
branous above. From the mentum extends the tongue or 
ligula (Fig. 35, 4, ¢), the paraglosse (Fig. 35, A, dD), 
sac-like organs whith connect with the cavity of the men- 
tum, and so are distended with blood when the mentum is 
pressed. They also stand out like leaves or plates, and aid 
in directing the nectar which is drawn through the ligula, 
into the mouth. The labial palpi (Fig. 35, 4, 4) are four 
jointed, and in arrangement, form and function resemble 
the maxilla. The tongue or ligula consists of an annulated 
sheath (Fig. 35, C, S) which is slitted along its under 
side to near the end. his is very hairy. Within this is a 
tubular rod (Fig. 35, B and C &) which is also slitted along 
its under side to near the end, and opens above at its base 
between the paraglosse (Fig. 36, C). Each margin of 
this slitted rod is united by a thin pubescent membrane to 
the corresponding margin of the surrounding sheath (Fig. 
35, C, 5). Hence any pressure within the annular sheath 
may throw the central rod out (Fig. 35, B, &). This 
results when we press on the mentum; as the blood pushes 
into the sheath and straightens the folded membrane (Fig. 
35, C,s). The bee then can take nectar in three ways, 
first rapidly when sipping from flowers containing much 
nectar (Fig. 36) by the large channels formed by approx- 
imating its maxille and labial palpi (Fig. 36, 4), secondly, 
slowly from deep tubular flowers, when it sips through the 
central rod, and, thirdly, it may lap from a smeared surface 
because of the slitted ligula. By use of colored liquids I 
have demonstrated that the bee does actually sip in all these 
ways. At the end of the ligula there is a funnel (Fig. 35, 
A, f). 
eee to say the structure and physiology of the tongue 
of the honey-bee was more correctly explained by old 
Swammerdam, than by most modern writers. Both he and 
Réaumur were quite accurate in their descriptions. Wolff 
in his elegant monograph from which I have taken several 
figures, described with beautiful illustrations the mouth 
organs of the honey-bee, but was in doubt as to their physi- 
ology. Dr. Hyatt, of New York, did much to explain the 
anatomy of the bee’s tongue: but so far as I know I was 
the first to accurately explain the anatomy and physiology 
