spinning Gland in Bee Larva. 113 



of this organ. Within the mentum (Fig. 36 c, tn) are 

 strong muscles for retracting the organ. The force of 

 suction is doubtless analogous to the act of drinking on our 

 own part. The rythmical motion of the ligula in sipping 

 honey is thus explained. By the muscles of the mouth the 

 cavity is enlarged, producing suction, when by pressure 

 swallowing is accomplished. 



When not in use, the tongue with the attendant mouth 

 organs, are bent back under the head (Fig. 36 B^. 



GLANDULAR ORGANS. 



These important organs, which have been so fully 

 described by Siebold, Wolff, and especially by Schiemenz, 

 are so intimately connected with the mouth organs, are so 

 evidently useful in digestion, and are so well developed in 

 the worker bees, that they deserve full consideration. 



Fig. 37. 



spinning Gland of Larva^ and cross section of same, ajter Scniemenz. 



C Gland. 5 Sintis. 



/ Duct. J) Common Duct. 



The spinning gland of the larval bee is a simple tubular 

 gland, and is well illustrated by Schiemenz (Fig. 37). On 

 each side within the head of the worker bee (Fig. 38 a) 

 are large glands, discovered by Meckel in 1846, and fully 

 described by Siebold in 1870, vvdiich are very rudimentary 

 in the queen and entirely absent in the drone. They are 

 often called the lower head glands. These are in form of 



