THE HEAD OF THE BEE. 
21 ) 
way, partly by suction and partly by capillarity, to the 
paraglossse, and is then conducted round to the groove 
(Fig. lo, o) on the upper side of the tongue, to be 
swallowed as we shall describe. 
To understand how larger quantities are taken, we 
must now refer to Fig. 13, a and b. It will be seen 
that the thin plates (/ p) of the maxillae overlap each 
other and have a row of hairs {h Ji) which act as stops, 
and there is a groove on the inside for the same pur- 
pose. The labial palps (/ I ), with their intercrossing 
hairs, close the space below, and thus in conjunction 
with the maxillae they form a tube {0 0), in the centre 
of which the tongue moves backwards and forwards. 
As the tongue takes up the liquid and the hairs 
become loaded, the tube (0 0) comes into play. To 
complete the connexion with the oesophagus the gum 
flap (Fig. 9, ^), is lowered on to the space left un- 
covered at the upper end of the maxillae, and the tube 
is completed ready for suction. 
It will probably be better understood by refer- 
ring to the section through the bee’s head (Fig. 23), 
showing disposition of the different parts. In this, / is 
the pharynx leading to the oesophagus, a the mentum, 
e the ligula, and g the labial palp, k the clypeus, and 
u the labrum. As seen in the illustration, there is no 
connexion with the pharynx, but when the mentum is 
brought up close to the opening and the gum flap at 
the extremity of the labrum {u) is brought down on the 
maxillae, as we have explained, the tube is completed. 
By placing the maxillae and labial palps in the 
position shown at a (P'ig. 13), the tube is expanded 
