THE THORAX. m 



the purpose of cleansing the antennae. At the junction 

 of the fourth and fifth segments (the tibia and the 

 tarsus] of the leg of a worker a cavity is formed 

 by the uppermost edge of the latter and the lower 

 of the former. The cavity can be opened or closed 

 at the will of the insect. This pocket, or pollen- 

 basket, is lined along its upper edge with a row of 

 lancet-shaped hairs, which aid in detaining the tiny 

 balls of pollen, as they are successively deposited on 

 the leg. Like a series of prong-tines, they can be 

 pressed into the yielding bee-bread, and keep it from 

 falling off; while, as they point downwards, they 

 present no obstacle to the brushing off of the whole 

 mass by the bee, on its return to the hive. The 

 slight hollowing of the tibia and the tarsus at the 

 approximating ends, affords more space for the 

 gathered pollen, and also assists in its safe carriage 

 to the cells. 



The last joint .of the tarsus is armed with a pair of 

 double claws, and between them lies a hollow cup- 

 shaped cushion, somewhat like that which enables 

 the house-fly to walk on glass or other very smooth 

 surfaces, only that the pulvillus of the fly is double. 

 The edge of the cup is fringed with cilice, or very 

 minute hairs, of such delicacy that a powerful lens 

 is required to see them. Under the microscope, the 

 object is one of great interest. 



The claws serve for hanging from the roof or sides 

 of hives, and for clinging to each other at swarming 

 or wax-making times, the cushion for walking on 

 smooth surfaces. It is worthy of remark that all the 

 joints of the legs are covered with hairs more or less 

 stiff, and all pointing downwards. Their uses are to 



