TAe Bee. 



121 



always project farther from the head. Bnt if the difEerenoe in the 

 shape of the head is not marked enongh, the single pair of wings 

 and the halanoera of the fly will tell the story. 



In the various insects we have studied we have seen 

 mouth-parts for biting, for piercing, and for sucking, but 

 here we find a combination of them all in one insect. 

 The hard mandibles (Fig. 3. md) are perfect little organs 

 for biting and cutting ; the first maxillae ( Fig. 4, mx?) are 

 long, sharp blades for piercing flowers; the middle .por- 

 tion of the second maxillae (Fig- 4, Ig) is the long sncking- 



mx 



tube for gathering the nectar, the longest of all the mouth 

 parts ; and on either side of it is a long palp or feeler (a;"), 

 ending in tiny joints and reminding one of a brown 

 needle. The best way to see the form and use of these 

 parts is to capture a large bumble-bee and feed it with a 

 syrup made of pugar and water. 



