Honey-Sac and Wax-Pockets 83 



slightest trace of pollen. To answer this it is necessary 

 to examine the honey-sac with a magnifying glass or a 

 low-power microscope, when a curious organ, the " honey- 

 mouth," is discovered. 



This little " honey-mouth," placed at the back 

 opening of the honey-sac, is firm and resisting 

 in substance and looks not unlike a closed-up 

 sea-anemone, or an unopened lilac bud. It is 

 closed by four valves fringed by short, stiff hairs 

 pointing out. It has been observed that by the 

 muscular contraction of the walls of the honey-sac the 

 pollen grains which have been swallowed with 

 the honey are collected together and finally 

 passed through this " mouth," whose valves 

 open to accommodate them. 



Whatever extra honey escapes with the pollen 

 through the mouth can readily be restored to 

 the honey-sac by contraction of the muscles be- 

 low the mouth, when the hairs prevent the pollen 

 from also returning. In short, the "honey- 

 mouth " is a cleverly devised strainer to free 

 the honey in the sac from pollen grains. 



Although nectar is changed by the bee it still 

 retains a trace of its origin, and an expert honey taster can 

 often tell by the flavor from what flowers the honey was 

 gathered, as the flavor, color, and quahty of honey depend 

 to a great degree upon the blossoms whence it came. 



Besides the aroma and flavor it retains from the flowers, 

 however, all honey has a characteristic taste and odor ; it 

 is "like honey,'' no matter what its source. This honey 

 odor is always discernible about the bee, the hive it inhab- 

 its, and the wax it secretes. 



The nectar of flowers does not as a rule give forth the 

 odor of honey. Indeed, nectar taken from the honey-sac 



