230 



AN INTRODUCTION TO ZOOLOGY 



into the oesophagus. The nectar is first collected by the hairs on 

 the ligula; it is then forced upward by the pressing together of 

 the maxillae and labial palpi. 



THE THORAX AND ITS APPENDAGES. The thorax consists of 

 three segments, each of which bears a pair of legs. The anterior 



segment is known as the prothorax, 

 the middle segment as the mesotho- 

 rax, and the posterior segment, as 

 the metathorax. The mesothorax 

 and metathorax each support a pair 

 of wings. The segments of the 

 thorax are comparatively large, 

 since they contain the largest and 

 most important muscles of the 

 body. Externally the thorax is 

 covered with flexible branched 

 hairs, which are of use in gathering 

 pollen (Fig. 130). 



LEGS. Perhaps the most in- 

 teresting structures of the honey- 

 bee are the legs of the worker (Fig. 

 131). They are wonderfully 

 adapted for the w r ork which they 

 FIG. 130. A, worker honeybee perform. The parts of a typical 

 with pollen basket full; B insect j mmi them - n Qrder 

 part of mesothoracic leg with 



branched hairs and pollen beginning at the proximal end, are 

 grains; C, one hair bearing the coxa (c), trochanter (tr.), femur 

 pollen grains. (From the (J) f tibia (ti.), and five-jointed 

 Cambridge Natural His- i arsus (A 



tory ' } The prothoracic legs (Fig. 131, C) 



possess the following useful structures. The femur (/) and tibia 

 (ti.) are clothed with branched hairs for gathering pollen. Extend- 

 ing on one side from the distal end of the tibia are a number of 

 curved bristles, the pollen brush (b in C and E), which are used to 

 brush up the pollen loosened by the coarser spines ; on the other side 



