THE MICROSCOPE IN ZOOLOGY. 



79 



bruised laurel leaves (the effect of the fumes of prussic 

 acid on bees is very rapid), I 

 cut off its hind-legs, and with 

 a camel's-hair brush and water 

 wash away that pollen mass. 

 At the juncture of the femur 

 and tibia I notice a deep nick 

 or cavity, and on submitting 

 this to microscopic investiga- 

 tion, I find a number of red- 

 dish-coloured spines arranged 

 around the cavity of the femur; 

 the upper part of the tibia is 

 also hollowed out into a cavity ; 

 the remaining part of the tibia 

 contains a number of brushes 

 or hairs, by means of which the 

 pollen is taken from the flowers 

 of various plants. But how 

 does the pollen get from the 

 brushes into the pocket? It 

 is evident this cannot be done 

 from the same leg. The bee 

 rubs the pollen-grains off one 

 leg into the pocket of the other, 

 and the series of strong comb- 

 like spines render material aid 

 in their deposition there. When- 

 the bee is loaded, off she flies 

 to the hive, where the pollen 

 mass is mixed with honey, de- 

 posited in cells, forming the 

 "bee-bread" with which the 

 young bee-grubs are fed. 



The stings and ovipositors of insects are very inte- 

 resting objects to study. The Hymenoptera will afford 



Hind Foot of Bee. 



