42 



BRITISH BEES. 



or palms ; and in the four posterior plants, or soles ; 

 the other joints are called the digiti, or fingers, or tarsus 

 collectively ; at the extremity of the terminal one are the 

 two claws, which are sometimes simple hooks, but usually 

 have a smaller hooklet within ; they have both lateral and 

 perpendicular motion, and between their insertion is af- 

 fixed the pulvillus, or cushion. The coxa in their occa- 

 sional processes exhibit very useful specific characters, as 

 do the markings and form of the remaining joints of the 

 leg and foot, which in several genera furnish generic pecu- 

 liarities. The four anterior tarsi have each a moveable 

 spine, or spur, at their apex within, which can be expanded 

 to the angle at which the insect wishes to place the limb, 

 and to which it forms a collateral support ; the posterior 

 tibiae have two each of these spurs, excepting in the genus 

 Apis, which has none to this leg. Attached to this 

 spur on the anterior tibiae of all the bees, there is, with- 

 in, a small velum, or sail, as it has been 

 called; this is a small angular appendage 

 affixed within the spur by its base. At 

 the base of the palmse of the same legs, 

 and opposite the play of this velum, there 

 is a deep sinus, or curved incision, the 

 strigilis, called thus or the curry-comb, 

 from the pecten, or comb of short stiff 

 hair which fringes its edge. Upon this 

 aperture the velum can act at the will of 



^ coxa" ^ ie ^ nsec ^ an( ^ combined they form a 

 6,trochanter ; e,f e - circular orifice. The object of this appa- 



mur, or thigh ; d, , , i i f 



tibia, or shank; e, ratus is to keep the antennae clean, tor 

 ami si- the insect, when it wishes to cleanse one 



gilis; ^digitus; h, th Qther Q f t]l J it within tn i s 



claw; r, pulvillus, 



or cushion. sinus of the palma, and then, pressing the 



