POLLEN. 



329 



POLLEN. 



BEES WITH MASSES OF POLLEN ON THEIR LEGS. 

 Note the bee in the lower right-hand corner, with two masses of pollen almost as large as its body. 



sleight-of-hand clear in the shade unless one 

 watches the whole operation with a power- 

 ful glass. This transfer seems to go on in the 

 the blossom and even after the bee is on the 

 wing. Dust the bee all over with flour and it 

 immediately begins the process of "brush- 

 ing its hair." It will rub the palms of its legs 

 and then begin the work of combing itself, 

 reaching with its middle and fore legs over 



brushed and groomed, until every particle 

 of pollen has been removed. 



If one desires to witness some of these 

 comical sleight-of-hand performances, for, 

 indeed, they are little short of real legerde- 

 main, he needs to dust only a few bees with 

 common flour and then note what happens. 



Reference was made to the fact that the 

 bee cleans its antennas with its fore legs. If 



MASSES OF POLLEN TAKEN FROM LEGS OF BEES. 

 These were photographed with a thimljle to show the relative size. 



its back and cleaning its antennas with its 

 fore legs. All these maneuvers may take 

 place while it rests on some object or while 

 on the wing, but the bee is unable to reach 

 over its entire body, especially the top of the 

 head. On entering the hive it is cleaned 

 by other bees, when after a little it will be 



these delicate organs of sense and hearing 

 be in any way impeded by a smearing of 

 pollen the bee is unable to communicate 

 with its fellows or perform satisfactorily the 

 functions of the hive. See Scent of Bees. 

 By referring to the engraving, page 828 at E, 

 there will be found a potch at o. Just over 



