88 



Jaws of Drone and Worker. 



aids in kneading wax, etc., as already described. It also 

 probably aids in modifying the sugar while the nectar is in 

 the bee's stomach, and, as I have shown elsewhere, in push- 

 ing out the tongue. This is done by crowding the liquid into 

 the closed tubular sheath (Fig. 22, 0, S). 



The jaws (Fig. 24, c) are very strong, without the rudimen- 

 tary tooth, while the cutting edge is semi-conical, so that when 

 the jaws are closed they form an imperfect cone. Thus these 

 are well formed to cut comb, knead wax, and perform their 

 various functions. Their eyes (Fig. 5) are like those of the 

 queen, while their wings, like those of the drones, attain the 

 end of the body. These organs (Fig. 3) , as in all insects with 

 rapid flight, are slim and strong, and, by their more or less 

 rapid vibrations, give the variety of tone which characterizes 

 their hum. Thus we have the rapid movements and high 

 pitch of anger, and the slow motion and mellow note of con- 

 tent and joy. 



Fig. 24. 



a— Jaw of drone. 



t— Jaw of worker. 



On the outside of the posterior tibia and basal tarsus is a 

 cavity, made more deep by its rim of hairs, known as the pollen 

 basket (Fig. lb, p). In these pollen baskets is compacted 

 the pollen, which is gathered by the mouth organs, and carried 

 back by the four anterior legs. Opposite the pollen baskets 

 are regular rows of golden hairs (Fig. 26, e), which probably 

 aid in storing and compacting the pollen balls. 



On the anterior legs of the workers, between the femur and 

 tibia, is a curious notch (Fig. 27, C) covered by a spur (Fig. 27, 

 B). For several years this has caused speculation among my 

 students, and has attracted the attention of observing apiarists. 

 Some have supposed that it aided bees in reaching deeper 

 down into tubular flowers ; others, that it was used in scrap- 

 ing ofi" pollen, and still others, that it enabled bees to hold on 



