How She Hears and Smells. 69 



the bumble-bee, and you can see them very- 

 well indeed with an ordinary magnifying 

 glass. They are on the inside of the leg 

 at X and A. 



There is a circular opening at A 

 just large enough for the antennae 

 to fit into. It is bordered by a sort of 

 round comb, that reminds us of those' 

 combs little girls sometimes wear. ^. 



Only this comb is very small and the 

 teeth point outward. 

 At the end of the joint above, at x, 

 a stiff flap hangs down. 



When the leg is bent the flap is 

 brought down in front of the cir- 

 cular opening, as you see in the 

 picture. When Miss Apis wishes to 

 clean her antenna, which is very often, she 

 raises her leg above her head, and draws 

 it down over her antenna, which slips into 

 the circular opening. Then she bends her 

 leg, the flap holds the antenna in place, and 

 she draws that precious organ through the 



