LEGS. 



50. The three pairs of legs are composed of several joints (fig. 1) 

 articulated like those of the human arm, so as to give great 

 mobility to the member. The lower joints of the two under pairs 

 form brushes, the hairs of which are stiff and bristly, and set 

 upon their inner surfaces. The farina which they collect from 

 the stamina of flowers is swept off by these brushes, as well as by 

 the hairs with which their abdomen and thorax are covered. Thi 

 farina is afterwards by means of the maxiUse or jaws, and the feet 

 of the anterior pair of legs, rolled into pellets and packed in a pair 

 of spoon-shaped cavities or baskets, provided for that purpose and 

 attached to the feet of the hindmost pair of legs. In this process 

 the brushes, after disposing of their own collection of farina, 

 sweep that flour also from the surface of the abdomen and thorax, 

 and pack it in like manner in the baskets. The exterior of these 

 baskets is smooth and glossy, and the interior lined with strong 

 close hairs to retain the load in its place, and prevent its escape 

 in flight. 



Basket 



Fig. 12. — ^Posterior leg of a worker. 



It is worthy of remark that neither the queen nor the drones 

 are supplied with this appendage. Since neither exercise any 

 industry they would have no use for it. 



31. Each foot terminates in two hooks, the points of which are 

 opposed one to the other. By means of these the insects suspend 

 themselves at will to the sides and roofs of their habitation, and 

 hanging from each other form a living curtain in certain operations 

 •which will be presently noticed. 



In the middle of each of these is placed the sucker, by which 

 the' insect is enabled to walk with facility on surfaces with its body 

 downwards, as we see flies walk on ceilings. These suckers are 

 little flexible cups, the edges of which are serrated so as to allow 

 of their close application to any kind of surface. vVhen closely 

 applied, the air between the sucker and the surface is excluded, 

 so that the body is attached to the surface by the pressure of the 

 atmosphere. When the foot is to be detached from the surface, 

 as in walking, the air is readmitted. This apparatus may be 



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