104 THE MICROSCOPE. Nov. 



previous to its passing into the honey stomach. Extend- 

 ing the whole length of the tongue is a tube probably 

 used for the passage of the nectar from the tip of the 

 tongue to the mouth. While- the tongue is stretched 

 forth to collect the sweets from the flowers it is supported 

 by the labial palpi (fig. 14, e), which are jointed and the 

 lower segments covered with fine hairs. 



To prepare the parts of the head for examination, soak 

 for a fortnight in liquid polassas to soften the skin and 

 dissolve the fatty substance. Then wash in water, press 

 between two pieces of glass until dry ; drop a little tur- 

 pentine upon them and let them soak in it a few days 

 when they will mount well in Canada balsam. 



The Legs. — In all bees the legs consist of five limbs, 

 but in the worker-bee the fourth and fifth limbs of the 

 hinder leg are very different from those of other bees. 

 Examine these (fig. 12, a, b) with a low power. The 

 tibia (fig. 12, a) becomes large as it approaches the 

 tarsus (fig. 12, b), the first joint of which is very largely 

 developed and covered with rings of stiff hairs set in 

 regular rows. Where these two divisions of the leg come 

 together a cavity is formed. This is the pollen basket. 

 The inside of this cavity is smooth and around the upper 

 edge is a row of lancet shaped hairs (fig. 13). These are 

 straight on the side by Avhich the pollen is received and 

 curved on the opposite side in such a way as to prevent 

 the pollen from falling out and at the same time to make 

 the most room in the cavity. The right leg conveys the 

 pollen to the left basket and vice versa. The foot of the 

 bee is provided with forked claws (fig. 9) and with a 

 central hollow cup- shaped organ studded all over with 

 hairs. This is to aid her in walking on walls and smooth 

 surfaces and is also used in performing her domestic op- 

 erations. 



The Wings. — These are four in number, the anterior 

 pair being the larger (fig. 5). They are of a tough 



