26 The Honey-Makers 



An exposed drop of honey, however, is an unusual piece 

 of good fortune for the bee ; generally, it has to insert the 

 proboscis into tubular flowers, where the nectar can- 

 not be Hcked out in this easy way, and if the bee 

 were unable to profit by the more inaccessible nectar 

 of the flowers, starvation would stare it in the face. 

 But the bee has a tongue of resources. When nectar 

 is abundant it can gather it speedily and carelessly, 

 but when distant or scarce sweets are to be reached, 

 it is also equal to the occasion. 



There is a groove running lengthwise at the back 

 of the tongue, which is somewhat complicated in 

 structure and which is closed into a tube by means 

 of hairs which are so placed that they cross each other, 

 forming a covering to the groove, but which can easily be 

 moved aside when it is desirable to open or clear the tube. 

 The end of the tongue is a cylindrical disk covered with 

 delicate hairs, which aids in licking and also in starting the 

 nectar into the central groove. 



This groove or tube is no doubt used to convey small 

 quantities of nectar to the mouth, so by means of its com- 

 pHcated tongue the bee can gather nectar of any amount or 

 any degree of accessibility. 



The root of the tongue, as we know, is in the 

 mentum, and when not extended for use it is 

 withdrawn into the mentum in a manner which 

 the accompanying illustration makes clear. 



It is very easy to see the manner in which 

 the nectar starts on its upward course, but con- 

 cerning its final method of entering the bee's body 

 there is still room for a difference of opinion, — 

 one maintaining that the upper part of the pro- 

 boscis enlarges and contracts successively, thus pumping 

 the nectar into the mouth ; another, that the honey stomach, 



