MORPHOLOGY OF TBE LEGS OF HYMENOPTEROUS INSECTS. 



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insects where there is no such function to be per- 

 formed, and the fact that the stiff hairs which point 

 outward at the ends of these and all the legs are bet- 

 ter fitted for this work, gives reason to question the 

 accuracy of this view. On the inside of the first 

 tarsal joint of the middle legs (Fig. 8) is a fine brush 

 thickly set with hairs, which, as we have already 

 seen, is used to clean the antenna cleaner, and, as I 

 often noticed large masses of pollen adhering to this 

 brush, I am led to the conclusion that these are 

 hands or claspers that aid to bear the pollen to the 

 baskets on the posterior legs. The lower or outer 

 hairs of this brush are spine-like and doubtless aid 

 as already suggested in pushing the loads of pollen 

 from the legs into the cells of the comb. 



Upon the first three joints of the posterior legs, 

 the coxa, trochantes and femur (Fig. 10) the soft, 

 compound, pollen gathering hairs are well shown. 

 In the honey bee the tibia and first tarsus are won- 

 derfully developed. On the outside (Fig. 9) are con- 

 cavities for holding the pollen. These shallow 

 cavities, one in each of the joints, are bordered with 

 coarse hairs, which serve as so many stakes to aid in 

 holding the large pollen masses which the bee is 

 often seen carrying to the hive. Opposite the con- 

 cavity of the tarsal joint (Fig. 10) on the inside are 

 to be seen nine or ten rows of beautiful yellow 

 hairs, which form as many combs or brushes, which 

 serve to collect and transport the pollen from ditler- 

 ent parts of the bee to the pollen baskets. If a bee is 

 captured while collecting pollen, these beautiful 

 brushes will always be found with more or less pol 

 len adhering to them. Of course the combs of one 

 leg are used to fill the pollen basket of the opposite 

 legs. As before stated, this work is in part performed 

 by a similar but less perfect arrangement on the cor- 

 responding portion of the middle legs. 



Between the tibia and first tarsus of the posterior 

 legs of the honey-bee, Figs. 9 and 10, is a very curious 

 joint, reminding one of a steel trap or the jaws of an 



0m vm 



FIG. 3. 



Fig. 9. 



