20 



The Honey-Makers 



and brought forward between the jaws, which, as we have 

 seen, open for that purpose. It now has the appearance 

 of a short, stout, sharp-pointed dagger (S) 

 with two little feelers (X, X) at the tip. 



Instantly there appears, reaching below 

 the point of this dagger, a very active, 

 tiny, thread-like tongue (^T) wriggling 

 about in the honey or nectar and licking 

 it up very much as a dog's tongue licks 

 out a dish. 



The best way to watch the action of 

 the proboscis is to place a hungry bee 

 near a drop of honey. As long as the 

 honey is abundant and 

 easily reached, the pro- 

 boscis will probably re- 

 main as described ; but if the bee wishes 

 to reach a more distant point, the pro- 

 boscis is suddenly lengthened, an inner 

 portion (5, S) is shot out, reminding 

 one of the manner of lengthening of 

 a telescope. This inner part is seen to 

 bear the feelers {X, X), as they are car- 

 ried with it. 



The tongue itself is thrust further out 

 of its hiding-place. 



In short, with great rapidity the pro- 

 boscis can be extended until the tongue 

 is able to reach more than half the length 

 of the bee's body. 



As this interesting exhibition is watched, one discovers 

 that the proboscis is not a closed tube or tubes, but is 

 composed of parts which separate more or less as the bee 

 imbibes the honey. 



