112 Physiology of Bee's Tongue. 



branous above. From the mentum extends the tongue or 

 ligula (Fig. 35, A, t), the paraglossse (Fig. 35, A, p, p), 

 sac-like organs which 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 Hgula, 

 into the mouth. The labial palpi (Fig. 35,^, k) are four 

 jomted, and in arrangement, form and function resemble 

 the maxillae. The tongue or ligula consists of an annulated 

 sheath (Fig. 35, C, 6") which is slitted along its under 

 side to near the end. This is very hairy. Within this is a 

 tubular rod (Fig. 35, B and C B) which is also slitted along 

 its under side to near the end, and opens above at its base 

 between the paraglossa; (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, s). Hence any pressure within the annular sheath 

 may throw the central rod out (Fig. 35, B, 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 maxilla 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, 



Strange 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 

 Reaumur were quite accurate in their descriptions. Wolff 

 in his elegant monograph from which I have taken several 

 ligLues, described w^lth 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 liee's tongue: but so far ;is I know I was 

 the first to accurately explain the anatomy and physiology 



