Microscopical Essays. 



The dainty fuckle, and the fragrant thyme, 



By chymical reduction, they fublime, 



Their fweets with bland attempering fuclion drain, 



And curious thro' their neat alembicks drain • 



Imbib'd reclufe, the pure fecretions glide, 



And vital warmth concocls th' ambrofial tide, 



Brooke. 



By the probofcis, or trunk, the bee not only procures itfelf 

 neceflary fubfiftence, but it is alio employed by the animal to coi- 

 lecl the honey, which we appropriate to ourfelves as if it was 

 made for us. It may be confidered in a general view -as confirm- 

 ing of feven pieces ; one of thefe, i i, be, Fig. 3, Plate XIII. 

 is placed in the middle ; this is fuppofed to be pervious, and to 

 conflitute what may be properly called the probofcis. Trie, other 

 fix fmaller parts, or (heaths, difpofed in three pairs, are placed 

 on each fide the former. They not only aflift it in extracting and 

 gathering the honey from the flowers, but they alfo protect and 

 ftrengthen it. The probofcis (i i, be) itfelf is very curioufly 

 divided ; the di virions are elegant and regular, and are befet all 

 round with briftly triangular hairs, diftributed in an elegant order : 

 thefe di virions, though very numerous, appear at firfl: fight as a 

 number of different articulations. 



The two pieces a a of the exterior (heath are of a fubfrance 

 partly between bone and horn, and partly membranaceous ; they 

 are fet round with hairs, and are furniflied with air velels, which 

 are dHtributed through their whole texture ; the upper ends f f 

 of this (heath appear to be a little bent, but can be ftraitened by 

 the bee 'when they are applied to the probofcis . At d d are two 



X. x 3 artku- 



