GENERAL HISTORY OF BEES. 41 



not seem to be at all used by that sex for any purpose 

 but sexual. In the females they are used for the con- 

 struction of their burrows and nests, and for the pur- 

 pose of nipping the narrow spurs and tubes of flowers 

 to get at the nectar ; and they often nip, whilst seeking 

 pollen, the anthers of the flowers which have not yet 

 burst their receptacles of pollen. 



These insects must necessarily nicely appreciate the 

 quantity of pollen requisite to the full development of 

 the young insect, and, although we often observe a re- 

 markable difference of size in the individuals of a species, 

 this may rather arise from some defect in the quality of 

 the nutritive purveyance than in its quantity, for instinct 

 would as efficiently provide for this purpose as it un- 

 questionably guides to the collection and storing of the 

 nutritive supplies. 



Having thus completed the description of the head 

 and of all its attachments, I proceed to 



The THORAX, which is divided by sutures into three 

 parts already mentioned above, viz. the prothorax, the 

 mesothorax, and the metathorax. 



The collar, or upper part of the prothorax, is often 

 very distinct, and even angulated laterally in front, and 

 frequently presents, both in colouring and form, a specific 

 character. At its under portion on each side the ante- 

 rior legs are articulated. 



All the legs comprise the coxa, or hip-joint; the tro- 

 chanter, which is a small joint forming the connection 

 between this and the next joint the femur, or thigh ; the 

 tibia, or shank ; and the tarsus, or foot. The latter con- 

 sists of five joints, declining in length from the first, 

 which is generally as long as all the rest united together ; 

 the first, in the anterior pair, being called the palma, 



