IO 



THE HUMBLE-BEE 



with a good lens, the fore -wing is seen to have a 

 fold along its posterior margin, while on the anterior 

 margin of the hind-wing a row of hook-shaped 

 bristles or hairs can be easily detected. When the 

 wings are expanded these hooks catch on firmly to 

 the fold in the fore-wing, and the fore- and hind- 

 wing on each side are enabled to act in concert, 

 having the appearance and all the firmness of a 

 single membrane." 1 In the humble-bees the wing- 



Fig. 2. Antenna-cleaner in fore-leg. 



hooks number from 17 to 24. Their position is 

 indicated in Fig. 25, p. 145. 



Another remarkable structure is an antenna- 

 cleaner in the front legs. This consists of a semi- 

 circular incision in the metatarsus, fringed with a 

 fine comb. When the lee: is flexed a knife- like 

 spine hinging from the tibia can be made to shut 

 down over the incision. Thus a hole is formed 

 through which the antenna is frequently drawn to 

 rid it of any pollen grains or particles of dust that 

 may have clung to it. 



1 Fauna of British India Hymenoptera, by C. T. Bingham, 1S97, vol. i. 

 pp. viii and ix. 



