THE BEE, 



The mouth of the bee is further provided with a tongue of a 

 most curious sort. It is capable of protrusion considerably 

 beyond the jaws, and covered along its whole length with 

 regular and symmetrical circlets of fine hairs. Prom root to 

 tip this tongue is traversed by a tube, through which, in all 

 probability, the nectar is conveyed to the mouth. When, how- 

 ever, the insect is in a state of repose, the whole of this compli ■ 

 ;ated apparatus folds under the head, and to the ignorant beholder 

 ts existence would be no more suspected than the ready dart 

 iurking at its other extremity. " Truly," observes Mr. Samuelson, 

 " that although at first sight it may appear strange that so 

 humble an insect should be thus remarkably endowed, it will no 

 longer be a matter of surprise when we come to consider its 

 various occupations. Then, indeed, you will rather be disposed 

 to wonder how simple an apparatus can be made subservient to 

 such a variety of purposes as the gathering of honey, the knead- 

 ing, cutting, manipulation, and adjustment of wax, the plaster- 

 ing of propoUs, the feeding of the young, and many other 

 employments too numerous to be recorded." 



■ The bee's eye is a wondrous construction. Seen through a 

 microscope, and with a few of the hairs removed from the front 

 of the top of the head, the creature seems to possess three eyes, 

 disposed so as to form a triangle. In shape the eye resembles one 

 of those elongated leaves of chaff that surround a grain of wheat, 

 and, like the said husks, it has a bright, glazed appearance. 

 Simple as the tiny instrument seems, however, it is composed 

 of the prodigious number of about three thouscmd five himd/reA 

 perfect hexagonal lenses, fitting closely together and disposed in 

 regular rows. Says the talented author of "Humble Crea- 

 tures," in his description of the honey-bee, " In order to afibrd 

 some idea of the general character and operation of one of these 

 compound eyes, we shall compare it to a bundle of telescopes 

 (3,500 remember), so grouped together that the large terminal 

 lenses present an extensive convex surface, whilst, in consequence 

 of the decreasing diameter of the instruments, their narrow ends 

 meet and form a smaller concentric curve. Now, if you can 

 imagine it possible to look through all these telescopes at one 

 glance, obtaining a similar efiect to that of the stereoscope, you 

 will be able to form some conception of what is probably the 

 oppration of visian in the. bee." 



The bee has six legs, which serve it, not only for the purposes 

 of locomotion but in various ways connected with its domestic 

 economy. Putting one of its hind legs under a microscope, wa 



