118 The Bee's Tongue, and Glands connected with it. (February, a 
Thus we have a passage from the tip of the ligula through 
the groove in the rod, and the spiral tube in the mentum to 
py, the opening in front of the pharynx, 
VA above the labium and between the man- 
1 dibles. This opening is transverse, and 
seems to have lips, and from its appear- 
ance we should expect it to close like a 
valve, if suction was applied below. 
Meeting this tube from the ligula, and 
discharging its contents through the 
same opening into the mouth, is the spi- 
thorax. 
The questions are at once thrust upon 
us, whence comes this structure? and of 
what use is it to the bee? If I was wise 
the article would end here, but our incli- 
Fic. 4.—Fragment of glands to speculation, is always strong in the 
of thorax much magnified. absence of facts to curb it. It seems but 
natural from the size, position and outlet of the glands, connected 
as they are with an inlet for the nectar of flowers, to conclude 
that they are organs that furnish the animal secretion that changes 
nectar into honey, and I would venture the suggestion that 
they may be the spinning 
glands of the larve modi- 
fied. If this is true, 1 
should expect to find 
them either in an active 
or aborted condition in 
“nearly all Hymenoptera. 
Another question raised, 
is, in what way is nectar 
Bundred and seventy diamet 
i 
ral duct from the glands of the head and ~ 
nation to explain everything by resorting 
carried from the flower to — 
J & the mouth? This must — 
.—Cross section of _— magnified one be, from the nature of the : 
case, largely a matter of — 
speculation. Prof. Cook, in his article, says: “The tongue iS — 
also retracted and extended rythmically while the bee is sip- 
ping.” May not this motion be due to a pumping action of the — 
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