30 HUMBLE CREATURES. 



CHAPTER III. 



THE ANTENNA OB PEBLEBS OF THE BEE ; THBIE STBUCTUBE, 

 AND ANECDOTES CONCEBNING THEIB EMPLOYMENT. — THE 

 EEMAEEABLE MASTICATIN& APPABATUS ; ITS SAW-LIKE 

 JAWS, CUTTIN& BLADES, AND EXQUISITE LIG-TTLA OB TONGUE; 

 THEIB USES. — THE THOBAX OB CHEST. — THE LEGS : WON- 

 DEEPUL CONSTBUCTION OP THE BEE'S HIND-LBGS ; THE 

 POLLEN-BASKET AJSTD PLIBES. — HOW THE BEE COLLECTS ITS 

 PBOVENDEE. — WING OP A BEE AND ITS COMPONENT PAETS. 

 — CUEIOUS CONTBIVANCB POE LOCKING THE WINGS TO- 

 GBTHEE. — USES OP THB WINGS. — THE STING; ITS BABBS 

 AND POISON-BAG. — SUMMAEY. 



Having carefully examined the complicated anatomy 

 of the eyes of the Bee, the next organs upon its head 

 that we shall have to consider are its antennae or 

 feelers (PI. V. fig. 1, a, & fig. 2). These appendages 

 are thread-like or filiform, as they are scientifically 

 denominated; and if you examine them with a lensj 

 you will find that they are composed of thirteen 

 cylindrical joints of nearly equal diameterj the second 

 from the head being, however, much longer than the 

 rest, and comprising ahove one-third of the whole 

 antennae (PL V. fig. 2, a). With the exception of 

 this one, all the annulated segments of the antennae 

 are studded over with perforations similar to those 

 upon the third joint of the Housefly. These per- 

 forations will be more readily detected through the 

 employment of a low magnifying power (fig. 3), or. 



