mSECTS : THEIE FEET. 139 



It is the outer or hinder edge of the joint that ca/rries 

 the comparatively straight spines. These receive the 

 grains from the combs, which, then falling into the 

 basket, are received into the wide concavity formed 

 partly by its bottom and sides, but principally iy the 

 arching spines of the opposite edge. Their curving form 

 would have been less suitable than the straighter one 

 to pass through the interstices of the combs, because it 

 would be much more difficult to get at their points ; 

 while, on the other hand, the straight lines of these 

 would have been far less effective as a receiver for the 

 burden. The thickness of the spines is just that which 

 enables them to pass freely through the iuterstices of 

 the comb-teeth, and no more. 



On the whole, this combination of contrivances reads 

 us as instructive a lesson of the wisdom of God dis- 

 played in creation as any that we have had brought 

 under our observation. 



The end to be attained by all this apparatus is 

 worthy of the wondrous skill displayed in its contri- 

 vance ; for it is connected with the feediug of the stock, 

 and whatever diminishes the labour of the individual 

 bees enables a larger number to be supported. But 

 valuable as is the Honey-bee to man, there are other 

 important purposes to be accomplished, which are more 

 or less dependent, collaterally, on this series of contri- 

 vances. 



" In many instances it is only by the bees travelling 

 from flower to flower that the pollen and farina is car- 

 ried from the male to the female flowers, without 

 which they coidd not fructify. One species of bee 

 would not be sufficient to fructify all the various sorts 

 of flowers, were the bees of that species ever so numer- 



