membrane, m which the hairs are fixed, into a much fmaller
■ cornpals, and draw it inwards.
The probofcis is not cylindrical, but rather a kind of convex
blade, terminating nearly in a point; and the Iheaths are fo con-
tnved as to cover little more than the upper part o f i t ; they are
a kind o f angular groove, o f which the upper fide is the broadeft.
Tire exterior {heaths lap over each other on the upper part, fo
that the outfide -of the probofcis is proteded t>y a very ftrong
double cafe, a covering that was unneceffary for the under part ;
becaufe when this mftrument is inufe the {heaths are opened but
when it k inaaive it is fo folded that the under part is proteaed
by the body o f the bee. Within fide the exterior {heath, and
near the bottom q, are two levers, which are fixed to the end o f
*he probofcis, and by which it is raifed and lowered.
I f ahee is attentively obferved when it has placed itfelf upon a
iulhblown flower, the adivity and addrefs with which it ufes this
apparatus will be very confpicuous. It lengthens the end o f it,
and applies it to the bottom o f the petals, or leaves, o f the flower,
moving it continually in ten thoufand different ways, lengthening
and fhorteningit, bending and turning it in all poffible directions,
to adapt it to the form o f the leaves o f the flower. Thefe various
movements are executed with a promptitude that furpaffes all
defcription.
Mr. Swammerdam thinks that the honey is, as it were, pumped
or fucked up by the bee through the hole at the end b o f the probofcis
; he does not feem to have difcovered the apertures which
are on the cylindrical part, near the end b.
M. Reau-
• Ml c -r o s c o p -i c a l E s s a y s . 3g_
M. Reaumur thinks it is ufed as a tongue to lap up the fluid
which is conveyecLdown between, die {heath to the mouth o f the
bee. T o prove this, he placed a bee in a-glafs tube, the infide of
which-was- rubbed over with honey, and, little pieces.thereof pia-
ced.in diffèrent parts he obferved the trunk lying on the honey,
tbe end thereof being ftretched beyond the honeyed heap ; lhe’
bends it into the form* o f a bow, and.inferts the moft convex part
o f this bow into,the liquor,, Mid then rubs tbe- glafs backwards
and forwards with the fame fide of tbe probofcis, fo as very foon
to dean that* part of the glafs to which lhe applies it. It is afterwards
conveyed to.the throat by the various vermicular motions
o f the probofeis, Thofe - who • wilh for. a- fuller, account o f this
curious.apparatus,, will do well to confult the mterefting memoirs-
of M, de Reaumur, who has, with a, wonderful fagacity, dif-
covered the principal fprings o f this aftonilhing machine. He has
there defcribed more than twenty parts o f which it is made, and
almoft given-a. complete anatomy, o f this little organ. Like a
workman who takes to pieces a watch which he himfelf has
made, he lays before us the fev-eral pieces, makes us remark their
fitnefs, their adjuftment, their ufes, the play of. their fprings,
pivots, and pillars ; for all thefe parts, and many more, are to be
found in the probofcis o f the hee..
O f the W ings-- of In sects-. .
The attentive obferver. will find a very, plèafing variety o f oh-
jftcls in the wings o f different, infeds. The beauty, o f their
colours, the delicacy o f their ftrudure, the art with which they
are conneded to the body, the curious manner in which fome are
folded .up, the admirable texture o f their joints, imprefs on the
mma