82 NATURAL HISTORY OF WASPS. 
the maxillary palpi are connected. These are, gene- 
rally, similar to the labial palpi, but have two more, 
namely six, joints. This is the typical number for 
the Vespx; some of the Vespidee have only five, and 
some of the Eumenide no more than three joints. 
The successive joints diminish regularly in size until 
the last which, though slighter, is somewhat longer 
than those immediately preceding it. 
Outside the palpus, sprmging lke it from the 
anterior extremity of the basilar portion, but from a 
much broader base, is the galea. It is most aptly 
so called, from its crest-like form, and the long hairs 
with which it bristles. The student of human 
osteology may well envy the entomologists the 
happier comparisons by which the details of imsect 
anatomy have been illustrated, here as elsewhere. 
The inner edge of the basilar portion is clear and 
well defined, lying as we have seen, parallel to the 
mentum of the labium. The outer edge is more 
rough and ragged, especially at the root of the 
galea. But as we trace it backwards it is more 
sharply defined, till the limb terminates in a rounded 
extremity to which another shorter horny piece is 
articulated. This little fragment is called the cardo 
or hinge, on which the whole oral apparatus turns. 
Diverging from its fellow as it passes backwards it 
offers a firm point of attachment to the muscles and 
membranes which go to constitute the intricate 
mechanism of a wasp’s mouth. 
I do not doubt that the small portion of the anatomy 
ot this part which it is necessary to understand and 
to remember for practical purposes, may be made 
