ANATOMY. 257 



and also those of the dipterous family, possess 

 die power of flying in a more perfect degree than 

 any class of animals besides, surpassing in this 

 respect even the bird tribe. In the anterior mar- 

 gin of the under wings small hooks (hamuli) are 

 placed, which are capable of laying hold of the 

 posterior margin of the upper wings, by means of 

 which they are kept steady when flying. These 

 hooks are discoverable under a good magnifier. 



Secondly, To the LEGS, by which the insect 

 moves itself from place to place upon the earth. 

 Of these there are six in number, each composed 

 of several joints, and articulated like our arms, 

 thus affording the power of various movements : 

 in the legs are three distinct divisions ; namely, the 

 thigh, the shank, and the foot. In the/owr hinder 

 legs one joint forms a kind of brush, externally 

 smooth and bare, but covered on the inside with 

 stiff bristling hairs. By these the insect is enabled 

 to brush off farina both from the tips of the sta- 

 mina of flowers and from the hairs of its own 

 body. With the jaws and two fore-feet, the meal 

 is rolled into small compact masses, which are con- 

 veyed, by the middle pair of legs, to the spoon- 

 shaped cavities in the centre joint of the two hind- 

 most feet ; these are surrounded by strong close 

 set hairs, to secure more firmly the precious bur- 

 dens. (No such groove is to be found in the legs 

 of either the queen-bee or drone.) Each foot'ter 



