BRITISH HIVE- BEE. 



297 



Nervous system. — In the adult this exhibits considerable 

 fusion of parts. The supra-cesophageal ganglia are very 

 large, and send large lateral extensions to the compound 

 eyes. This " brain " is best developed in the active workers. 

 The sub-oesophageal mass is formed by the fusion of three 

 pairs of ganglia. In the thorax there are two pairs of 

 ganglia, of which the second supplies the wings and the 



Fig. 131. — Nervous system of bee. — After Cheshire. 



A, of larva. B, of adult; a., antenna; vix. t maxilla ; m., mandible ; 

 •w. , origin of wing ; 1-5, abdominal ganglia. 



two last pairs of legs. In the worker there are five pairs 

 of abdominal ganglia, but in the queen and drone only 

 four. The sense organs are the simple and compound 

 eyes, and the antennae, which are furnished with numerous 

 sensitive structures. 



Alimentary system. — The oesophagus is a narrow tube 

 which runs down the thoracic region. In the abdominal 

 region it expands into the crop or honey-sac. The crop 



