i86 



Introduction to Botany. 



and by a contraction of the honey stomach empties its load 

 of honey into the cells of the comb ; then, urged by an 



irresistible instinct, it 

 flies forth to repeat the 

 process again and again 

 until darkness sets in. 

 It can be seen at once 

 that the industry of the 

 bee places it in the fore- 

 front of insects useful 

 in the cross pollination 

 of flowers. 

 Fig. 101. _/\s has been said, bees 



Longitudinal diagram of the head and a part g^lgg collect Dollcn aS an 



of the body of the honey bee. g, the flap . 



over the mouth opening; mx, maxilla; important food for them- 

 //, labial palpi ; /, the tongue; o, the oesoph- gelvCS and their VOUng. 

 agus ; J, honey stomach. When at rest -^ ^ 

 the maxillae, tongue, and labial palpi are Some pollcn may bC in- 

 folded baek as indicated by the dotted line, cidentally swallowed 



Alter L/HESHIRE. •' 



with the nectar, but 

 most of it is deftly transferred to the hind legs, where it 

 is sometimes heaped up in large masses, having been 

 rendered adhesive, if 

 necessary, by being .f^.""- 

 mixed with nectar. I 

 Figure 102 is a photo- 

 micrograph of two legs 

 of a honey bee, one 

 loaded with pollen and 

 the other empty. Some 

 other bees, notably the 

 green bees which fre- ^'°- '^°^' 



quent the yellow pond Photomicrograph of two posterior legs of Honey 

 . Bees, without pollen on the right, and with a 



■ lihes at early mornmg, bad of pollen on the left, x 3. 



