36 
BRITISH BEES. 
portion swells considerably, and the two edges separate 
more widely from each other. The under side of the 
tongue, which was before flat, rises and swells conside¬ 
rably, and all that thus rises up is evidently membra¬ 
nous. It looks like a long vessel of the most transparent 
material. But whilst this great increase of bulk is made 
upon the lower surface, the upper surface swells only a 
little, which seems to prove that its immediate envelope 
is not capable of much distension. 
If a bee be observed whilst sipping any sw r eet liquor, 
the anterior portion of its trunk will be sometimes seen 
more swollen than when in action, and alternations will 
be observed in it of varying expansion. 
The posterior portion of the trunk is a great deal 
larger than the anterior, and it is only in repose that 
the former nearly equals the latter in length. This 
posterior portion (this is the portion treated above as 
the labium , or under lip) is joined to the anterior by a 
very short ligature, wholly fleshy, and very flexible, 
which permits the folding of the trunk, and then its 
under side is quite scaly, very shiny, and rounded (the 
maxillae). This portion is apparently more substantial 
than the rest. Its diameter gradually increases as it 
recedes from about the middle to about two-thirds of 
its length; there it is a little constricted, and the first 
of the two pieces of which it is composed there termi¬ 
nates. The first piece is rounded, for the purpose, it 
would appear, of fitting itself upon another, which 
serves as its base and pivot. This base is conical and 
of a scaly texture, and terminates in rather an acute 
point. It is this point which is articulated at the junc¬ 
tion of the two small elongate portions of which we 
spoke at the commencement, and which carry the trunk 
forward. 
