THORAX AND LEGS. 120, 



and also, in a modified form, by wasps and ants. 

 That the use of this appliance has been missed is 

 not astonishing, for the cause of failure is but too 

 evident. If bees be watched (and weary ones on a 

 window-bar are best for the purpose), the first leg 

 will now and again be raised in front of the head, 

 and then drawn outwards. The leg, by this move- 

 ment, is put over the antenna, which slides up 

 past an especially-contrived slip-way, consisting of 

 the short, stiff hairs, near p in Plate V., until the 

 projection of the velum is reached, when the thread- 

 like organ of hearing and feeling drops naturally into 

 the semicircular cavity. At once the tibia bends on 

 the metatarsus, and brings all into the position seen 

 at E ; but the antenna is now compassed behind 

 and before, and the teeth of the semicircular comb 

 (standing up towards us in the Plate), as the leg 

 passes outwards, scrape off every particle of dust, 

 rendering all fit again for the delicate duties of 

 smelling and feeling. But the velum, too, aids in the 

 process. Its cross section (v, H) shows a back pro- 

 jection, which keeps the scraping edge in position 

 for its work, like the carpenter's plane-body holding 

 the iron. The combs, made up of about eighty teeth, 

 of the form shown at F, are, of course, right- and 

 left-handed ; the ends of their teeth, while engaged 

 in scraping, as at c, H, always going first. How 

 remarkable the device, and how exact the fitting of 

 parts ! I have before stated that the queen's antenna 

 i s y^-in. in diameter, and such is the measure of 

 the comb on her first leg; the drone's, -g^in., his 

 comb the same ; and so on among both hive and 



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