TONGUE AND MOUTH PARTS 10 1 



the salivary secretions of Systems No. 2 and No. 3, 

 either one or both. The tongue is drawn into the 

 mentum by the shortening of the retractor linguae 

 muscle, 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 with- 

 out thinning by a fluid. This fluid is saliva, which 

 is demanded in larger quantities than the poor bees 

 can supply. They are able, however, to yield it in 

 surprising volume, which also explains how it is that 

 these little 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. 



The tongue is kept fully drawn back during the 

 feeding of brood, and the salivary valve is now not 

 only closed, but shut completely out of action by the 

 folded skin (A, Fig. 19) ; while the chyle gland 

 (No. 1) is brought up close to the tongue root, and 

 into the precise position for feeding from between the 

 mandibles. The wedged shape the tongue and head 

 take together is highly suggestive when the form of 

 the cell at the bottom of which the larva lies is 

 remembered. This wondrous tongue has no speech, 

 but yet who so dull that cannot hear its thrilling- 

 little voice, speaking as unmistakably as the stars 

 discourse the language of the immensities? 



