198 Morphology of the Legs of Hymenopterous Insects. 
cleaner, after which the bee will pass the fore legs, now foul with 
dust, between the brushes formed by the soft hairy inner faces of the 
basal tarsi of the middle legs. This will be repeated several times, 
when upon examination the antenne will be found entirely freed 
from the troublesome dust. In case of the wasp, as Polistus annu- 
laris, the atitenne are cleaned the same as just described except that 
the leg or antenn cleaner is cleaned by passing it between the jaws 
instead of between the middle legs. As we are sure of the function 
of this beautiful apparatus we do not need to refer to the wonderful 
correspondence in size of the cavity in each separate case, with the 
antennæ of the same insect, which would be added proof if such 
were needed as to its function. I will also state that I believe L 
have found an antenne cleaner in some beetles, especially carabids. 
In these cases the cavity and lid are both on the tibia a little dis- 
tance towards the body from its farther end. 7 
In the honey-bee on the outer end of the tibia, just opposite the 
antenne cleaner (Fig. 1), is a small brush. This has been regarded 
by some as a cleaner of the antenne cleaners; but we have seen that 
the latter organs are cleaned in another way. I have never seen 
these brushes used to clean the cavities, though I have observed 
closely. The fact that other bees, wasps, ants, etc., have no such, 
brush makes me doubt such function. 
The branching, fluffy hairs which cover the upper part of the 
fore leg (Fig. 1) of the worker honey-bee are like the same in other 
legs of the same insect, of use in gathering the pollen. From these 
hairs the pollen is combed off and transported to the pollen baskets. 
Opposite the side of the basal tarsus which contains the cavity of 
the antenne cleaner of the bee (Fig. 1), is a comb formed of quite 
stiff hairs. This is used to free the hairy compound eyes of the 
bees of dust, pollen, etc., and also to comb the pollen off the lighter 
hairs. The former function may be observed by closer observation, 
as the bee is seen to wipe its pollen-begrimmed eyes, much as the 
common house fly is observed to rub its eyes, face and antenne. 
The middle legs of bees are covered with the compound hairs to 
the end of the tibia where a 
s EAA prominent tibial spur (Fig. 8) 
\ — SS nS is seen, but no more prominent 
Tein in the honey-bee than in other 
bees and in wasps. Indeed it is even larger in drones than in the 
