21 



LIFE-HISTORY OF BOMBUS 



In the hind-legs, the next joint below the tibia, 

 called the metatarsus, is enlarged into a sub- 

 rectangular plate, which is densely clothed on the 



corbicula 



receiver 

 comb 

 auricle 



Fig. 5. Pollen-collecting apparatus in Queen and Worker Humble-bee. 



A. Hind legs of Bombus terrestris queen. 



B. End view of apex of tibia, showing arch of hairs covering entrance to 

 corbicula. r, receiver ; s, juncture of metatarsus with tibia (this is a ball-and- 

 socket joint, the socket being here shown). 



C. Diagrammatic section of receiver and auricle, showing method of working. 

 c, comb ; r, receiver ; a, auricle. 



inner side with stiff bristles forming a brush. In a 

 pollen-collecting honey-bee this brush is filled with 

 moistened pollen, which is evidently on its way to 

 the corbicula. Cheshire states that the metatarsal 



