THE JAWS
We have seen that the bee possesses maxillæ, or inner jaws, and we are
now to consider the outer jaws. On (_a_) Plate IX. is a photograph
showing these jaws, which have been separated from the mouth in order
to show them better. They are very hard, and have extremely sharp
edges, like a joiner’s chisel. If you have ever watched a caterpillar
feeding, you will know that its jaws work sideways. It places itself
upon the edge of a leaf, and moves its jaws from left to right, one on
each side of the leaf. This action therefore resembles the opening and
shutting of a pair of scissors, placed flat upon the table, and the
jaws of all insects work in a similar manner.
The jaws of the bee are very powerful, and this is necessary, for it is
by their aid that the wax, which forms the comb, is cut up or thinned
out. Sometimes the bee may come to a flower which is too long for its
tongue to reach the bottom. It does not waste time trying, but simply
bites through the flower, inserts its tongue through the hole, and in
this way obtains the nectar.
A short time ago I imprisoned a wild bee in a cardboard box. Soon
afterwards I heard a great noise coming from the inside of the box, and
found that the little captive was hard at work, endeavouring to bite a
way through the cardboard. The noise made by its tiny jaws, as it tore
away shred after shred of cardboard, was like a mouse gnawing a plank.
I fed the bee with honey, and the next day found the floor of the box
covered with pieces of cardboard, whilst quite an appreciable amount
had been bitten away. In four days the bee had cut a way through the
side, making a hole large enough for herself to pass through. Seeing
that she had worked so hard, for the box was really a very substantial
one, I rewarded the little worker by setting her free.
[Illustration: PLATE IX
(_a_)
Photo-micrograph by] [E. Hawks
The Jaws
(_b_)
Photo-micrograph by] [E. Hawks
Claws, showing Hooks and Feeling Hairs]