THE HIVE-BEE 87 



turned towards the body) is set with many stiff spines in nine 

 or ten transverse rows. By these rows of spines the bee 

 combs out the pollen grains, which cling to the long weak 

 and branched hairs of the body and legs. The tarsal combs 

 are cleared out from time to time by means of another con- 

 trivance, which consists of regular and rather long spines set 

 in rows along the borders of the tibia of the same leg. One 

 row bends over the lower part of the large concave outer 

 surface of the tibia, and thus closes in what has been called 

 the bee's bread-basket. The legs are crossed during the trans- 

 ference of the pollen, so that the right bread-basket is charged 

 from the left tarsus, and vice-versd. The intermediate leg 

 bears a spike on the lower end of the tibia, which is used to 

 dislodge the pellet of pollen when the bee returns to the hive. 

 The fore leg has also a contrivance of its own. Here there is 

 between the tibia and the first joint of the tarsus a notch which 

 is nicely adapted to receive the feeler. The rounded concavity 

 of the notch is roughened by a comb. When the bee has 

 visited a number of flowers and dusted every part of its body 

 with pollen, it combs out the pollen from its legs and body 

 with the tarsal comb of its hind legs, but for the sensitive feeler 

 a more delicate means is employed. The fore leg is raised, 

 the feeler grasped by the notch, and by the closing of the 

 joint secured as tightly as is requisite, the notch being com- 

 pleted into a ring by a small piece which hangs from the tibia. 

 Then the feeler is gently drawn through the ring and combed 

 clean. Some beetles have a similar comb. Between the tibia 

 and tarsus of the hind leg, and just beneath the bread-basket, 

 is a notch with prominent edges, which can be used like a 

 pair of nippers, to draw out the plates of wax secreted between 

 the joints of the abdomen. The last joint of the tarsus bears 

 a pair of stout, double-pronged claws, between which is a 

 pad. In walking over a rough surface, the bee uses its claws 

 to get a firm hold, but on a smooth surface, such as a glass 

 window-pane, the pad is relied on. When the claws are bent 

 the pad is kept from contact with the ground, but by merely 

 straightening the claws, the pad comes automatically into 

 action. It exudes a viscid fluid, which produces adhesion, and 

 a bee walking on a polished surface leaves tracks which can 

 be detected by the microscope. House-flies and many other 

 insects can employ the pads of their feet in the same manner. 



