THE BEE. 37 



These instruments, which are obviously intended to 

 enable the little worker to bruise, crush, or divide 

 hard substances, are extremely strong and solid, being 

 composed of the same dark, horny, opake substance 

 (chitine) as that constituting the rings of the body ; 

 whilst the remaining parts of the oral apparatus, 

 although homy, are translucent and of a bright 

 straw colour. The most conspicuous of these are the 

 maxillm (PI. V. fig. 1, c c), two long pointed blades, 

 whose thiu edges work one against another like those 

 of a pair of ordinary sheep-shears, which instrument 

 they indeed resemble in shape, and along the middle 

 of each blade there runs a longitudinal rib covered 

 with hairs. At this part the blade suddenly becomes 

 thin and transparent, forming the edge, whilst the 

 back is much stronger and thicker, being supported 

 by a series of transverse ribs (PI. V. fig. 1, c' c') ; these 

 ribs, on being closely examined, are found to resemble 

 those in the proboscis of the Ply, and their function 

 has long been a subject of controversy : in aU proba- 

 bility they merely form a basis of support to the 

 organs in which they are present. 



This shape or structure of the maxiUse or jaws is 

 doubtless the most perfectly adapted to aid the insect 

 ia cutting and moulding its wax, in which operation 

 it also employs the exquisitely-formed ligula or 

 tongue (PI. V. fig. 1, d). 



The ligula, along with the two lateral feelers (labial 

 palpi), constitute the remaining portion of the oral 

 apparatus ; and the former is of the most delicate con- 



