96 Objects for the Microscope. 



HIND-LEG OF BEE. 



This is to show the peculiar structure of the hind-leg of 

 the Hive-bee. The worker-bee not the queen, nor yet 

 the drone has this beautiful contrivance for gathering the 

 bee-bread, and carrying it home to the hive. The Bee 

 collects the pollen of flowers, and rolls it into little pellets, 

 which she places in two hollows on the outside of her hind- 

 legs, called the baskets. This is done by her mouth and 

 these hairy legs, which help to collect the pollen, and work 

 it into shape and consistence. 



Every leg has ten rows of these hairs, and sixteen hairs 

 in a row. Count them, and observe how short and stiff 

 they are, exactly what the Bee wants for her work. 



FORE-LEG OF BEE. 



The fore-legs of the Hive-bee, or Carder, or Humble-bee, 

 exhibit a peculiar notch and spur on the tibia, which the 

 insect uses for clinging each to the other in the festoons 

 of wax-secreting labourers, or for nipping the legs of an 

 enemy. There is a deep notch edged with stiff short 

 bristles, and above it a spur, fashioned somewhat like the 

 blade of a pocket-knife, which closes over it, and must be a 

 most useful appendage to the busy Carder-bee in hackling 

 its moss. It must not be soaked long in potash or the 

 spur falls off. Mounted dry for the binocular it is well 

 seen, and the modifications adapted to each species are 

 very interesting. 



LEG OF GYRINUS. 



The Gyrinus is a small Water-beetle, that merry little 

 fellow who assembles with a host of comrades, whirls round 

 in ceaseless play on the surface of the quiet pond, or sunny 

 margin of the river. Boys call it the Whirligig Beetle. 

 These curious hind-legs, of which he has four, are the oars 

 and helm by which he propels and steers his little body 

 with such velocity through the water. 



The structure is remarkable, the femur and tibia are 

 somewhat triangular, the latter fringed with short spines, 

 and long flattened filaments; in the middle pair of legs 



