The Legs 73 



When walking on rough surfaces, the disk, ox pidvilla, is 

 folded togetlier and turned back out of the way, the toes 

 clinging to the irregularities. 



The toes can be turned up so as to form veritable hooks 

 from which the bee can suspend itself. The strength of 

 these hooks is remarkable, they being able to maintain 

 their position hours at a time, 

 and bearing several thousand 

 times the weight of the bee, 

 as in the case of swarming, 

 where the upper bees are 

 hooked fast to the tree branch 

 or other support, and the rest 

 of the swarm suspended from 

 them. 



The six feet are all alike ; 

 but while the legs share 

 equally in the labors of walk- 

 ing, running, jumping, clinging, and cUmbing, each pair has 

 its own individual duties, different from all the rest ; and 

 to aid in the performance of these duties, each has its 

 own special and peculiar implements with which to accom- 

 plish its designs. 



The foremost pair of legs is the smallest and shortest, 

 being attached to the thorax as close to the head as pos- 

 sible. These legs are indeed the servants of the head, 

 keeping it and its important organs free from disturbing 

 substances. 



One prime function of the legs is to keep the bee clean. 



A cat does not make as elaborate a toilet nor keep itself 

 as neat as a bee, the cleanliness of the little creature having 

 been noticed and commented upon from Aristotle down. 



Butler says, — " For cleanliness and neatness they may 

 be a mirror to the finest dames." 



