20 PHYSIOLOGY OF THE HONEY-BEE. 
joints. It is easily understood that if the tongue were atube, 
the pollen grains when conveyed through it would obstruct 
it, especially when daubed with very thick honey. 
48. “A most beautiful adaptation here becomes evident. 
Nectar gathered from blossoms needs conversion into honey. Its 
cane sugar must be changed into grape sugar, and this is accom- 
plished by the admixture of the salivary secretions of Systems 
Nos. 2 and 3 (sd, 2, 3, fig. 6), 
either one or both. The 
tongue is drawn into the 
mentum by the shortening 
of the retractor linguze mus- 
cle, which, as it contracts, 
diminishes the space above 
the salivary valve, and so 
pumps out the saliva, which 
mixes with the nectar as it 
rises, by methods we now 
understand. Bees, it has 
often been observed, feed on 
thick syrup slowly; the 
reason is simple. The thick 
syrup will not pass readily 
through minute passages 
without thinning by a fluid. 
‘This fluid is saliva, which is 
demanded in larger quanti- 
ties than the poor bees can 
supply. They are able, how- 
ever, to yield it in surprising 
volume, which also explains 
Pe. 16 
TONGUE AND APPENDAGES. 
(Magnified. From Maurice Girard.) 
how it is that these ifttle % tongues >, labial palpi; c; maxilte. 
marvels can so well clean themselves from the sticky body honey. 
The saliva is to them both soap and water, and the tongue and 
surrounding parts, after any amount of daubing, will soon shine 
with the lustre of a mirror.”—(Cheshire.) 
49. The length of the tongue of the honey-bee is of great 
importance to bee-keepers. Some flowers, such as red clo- 
ver, have a corolla so deep, that few bees are able to gather 
the honey produced in them. Therefore, one of the chief 
