10 
The Legs. 
It has already been mentioned that the first pair of legs bear 
combs (C.eb) for the eyelashes, and a very elaborate pair of 
combs (E.q) for cleaning the antennew. The use of these can 
be most readily observed on drones. When these issue from 
the hive on a fine sunny day they pause on the alighting 
board and put up their forelegs alternately to their heads. 
The old bee-keepers said they were wiping their eyes. 
Rather they were combing the dust out of their eyelashes, 
and securing also that the sensitive hairs of the antennx 
were ready for use. If one touches the antenna of a bee 
with a moist finger the bee will immediately put up its 
foreleg and wipe the contaminated organ. 
The second pair of legs bear prominent spurs, which are 
said to be used in removing the pollen pellets from the baskets 
on the last pair of legs. On the hind legs of the worker bee are 
the wonderful structures for collecting and carrying home the 
pollen. These have also been beautifully figured by Cheshire, 
who shows both the outside and inside aspects of the hind leg. 
The last broad joint which Cheshire has called the planta, or 
metatarsus, bears on its inside a set of beautiful combs (B.p). 
On the joint above this, called by Cheshire the tibia, is 
found the corbicula or pollen basket. The tibia on the 
outer side is bare of hair, hollow and polished, but along the 
edges are arranged numerous bristles. These correspond to 
the framework put on a cart when the load is light and 
bulky, as when leading home the corn. 
The Collection of Pollen. 
If we shake a full-blown flower over a sheet of paper 
we observe a fine dust falling out on the paper. The micro- 
scope shows that it is not dust at all, but that each little 
particle has a definite shape and colour, depending on the 
particular flower. In fact, the pollen grains always found in 
honey as an accidental admixture are the final test for the 
source of honey. Eucalyptus pollen found in a sample of 
so-called British honey would be held as a conclusive proof 
of adulteration with Australian or other foreign honey. 
