THE HEAD OF THE BEE. 
27 
is highly elastic, giving motion to the ligula in every 
direction. The rod has a groove on the under side 
ToVo diameter, along the edge of which 
are intercrossing hairs which convert it into a small 
tube. At the back the rod has a thick layer of 
muscles which serve to enlarge and contract the canal, 
thus making it a true sucking organ. The blood 
space is seen at the trachea at and d is the taste 
nerve. The closing of the sheath also forms two tubes 
(Fig. 14, A and b, c c). These, together with the 
groove, extend to the spoon, just above which the 
section (Fig. 14, b) is taken. 
As appendages to the labium and partially sur- 
rounding the ligula at the upper end, are paraglossae 
(Fig. 10, n n\ membranous on the under side and 
strongly chitinous in front, and covered on the inside 
with very fine hairs. They are capable of meeting on 
the upper side and close over a groove on the 
tongue (Fig. 10, ^?), which extends a little way below 
them. 
The structure of the queen’s tongue is similar, ex- 
cept that it is shorter, with a smaller spoon, and the 
feeling hairs at the tip are larger. The drone’s tongue 
is still shorter, and the spoon is very much smaller 
and quite rudimentary. 
In order to understand that the bee does not lap 
honey and water, but sucks it up, we will consider the 
manner of action of the different parts which we have 
described. When minute quantities of nectar only 
are found in flowers, the spoon and groove on the 
under side of the ligula, as well as the two tubes 
