STRUCTURE ADAPTED TO WANTS. 70 



You will wonder, I am sure, at its great length. 

 It is almost as long as the whole body of the bee, 

 but nevertheless is just the tongue the bee requires, 

 for, when it goes to a flower, the honey is often very 

 deep down, and otherwise would be quite out of 

 reach. 



The construction of the tongue itself is also very 

 wonderful. It is made with a great number of joints, 

 so that the bee can twist it about, like an elephant 

 does its trunk ; and, when it reaches the place of the 

 honey in the flowers, can move it here and there and 

 all round. And as it is covered with very small hairs, 

 and the end of it is quite like a little brush, it sweeps 

 up all the honey, which readily sticks to it, and which 

 thus in a moment is drawn up into the mouth, from 

 whence it passes into the honey-bag or stomach. And 

 here it may be mentioned that this honey-bag is quite 

 distinct from the true stomach, and simply a convenient 

 place where honey can be stored till it is carried home. 



In the next place let us look at the wings. I 

 have said before that there are four, two on each 

 side, one much larger than the other. 



These wings, when not in use, are folded one over 

 the other by the side of the bee, the larger wing on 

 the top. 



And now what could be more perfectly fitted for 

 the purpose than the material of which the wing is 

 made .' You will notice, if you take a bee's wing and 

 magnify it slightly, that it is so made as to be very 

 thin and light, and yet very strong and tough. It is 

 also, as you will see, strengthened with little ribs of 

 stronger material. 



