LEG OF GYKINUS. 101 



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 

 these filaments are on both margins, on the hindmost only 

 on the outer margin. 



The tarsi are five-jointed, but the three upper ones are 

 most curiously fashioned into long leaf-like lobes, fringed 

 with spines, the fourth joint is about the same size and 

 semi-circular, and the fifth very short-armed, with two claws, 

 as indeed is each tarsal joint. 



Circulating currents may be seen in the hind legs. Also, 

 if you catch one, examine its very curious eyes divided into 

 two parts, the upper group for viewing objects in the air, 

 and the lower those in the water. The antennae are remark- 

 able, not only in shape, but in being retractile and having 



