364 



Microscopical Essays. 



articulations, by means of which the pieces a a may be occasion- 

 ally bent. The joints contribute towards bending the probofcis 

 downwards , or rather underneath, againft the head. Thefe 

 {heaths, together with the two interior ones e e, affift in defend- 

 ing, covering, and protecting it from injuries : it is alio probable 

 that they forward the defcent of the honey, by prefling the pro- 

 bofcis. The parts k k of this (heath have been called by fome 

 writers the root. 



The two parts e e of the interior (heath are placed higher than 

 thofe of the exterior one ; they originate at g g on the probofcis it- 

 felf, and near that part, or articulation, byvwhieh the bee can upon 

 occafion bend the probofcis ; this {heath, therefore, always moves 

 with the middle part i i, and is carried forward by- it, the exterior 

 {heath being left behind, becaufe it's attachments and origin are 

 below that of the probofcis. The pieces e e are very fimilar in 

 {fracture to thofe of a a, only that each of them has on the upper 

 part, three joints ; the lower one is much longer than the other 

 two ; they are all of them furrounded with fhort hairs. The 

 fmaller articulated pieces never lie clofe to the probofcis, nor cover 

 ity but are only placed near it, the two upper joints projecting 

 outwards, as in this figure, even when the whole apparatus is {hut 

 up as much as poflible. Swammerdam thinks thefe joints are of 

 effential ufe to the bee, acting as it were in the manner of fingers, 

 and a {filt the probofcis, by opening the leaves of the flowers, and 

 removing other obstructions from it : or like the two fore feet of 

 the mole, by the help of which it pumes the earth from the fides 

 both ways, that it may be able with it's {harp trunk to fearch for 

 it's food more conveniently. There are two fmaller pieces, or 

 4 {heaths, 



