THORAX AND LEGS. 131 



rangular form, constituting a flattish plate, slightly 

 convex on both surfaces. The outer face (p, A, Plate 

 V.) is not remarkable, but the one next the body {p, 

 B) is furnished with stiff combs, the teeth of which 

 are horny, straight spines, set closely, and arranged 

 in transverse rows across the joint, a little project- 

 ing above its plane, and the tips of one comb slightly 

 overlapping the basis of the next. Their colour is 

 reddish-brown ; and, entangled in the combs, we 

 almost invariably discover pollen granules, which have 

 been at first picked up by the thoracic hairs, but 

 combed out by the constant play of the legs over the 

 breast — in which work the second pair, bearing a 

 strong resemblance to the third, performs an im- 

 portant part. 



So soon as bees have loaded these combs, they do 

 not return to the hive, but transfer the pollen to the 

 hollow side of the tibia, seen at ti, A. This con- 

 cavity, corbicula, or pollen-basket, is smooth and hair- 

 less, except at the edges, whence spring long, slender, 

 curved spines, two sets following the line of the 

 bottom and sides of the basket, while a third bends 

 over its front. The concavity fits it to contain pollen, 

 while the marginal hairs greatly increase its possible 

 load, like the sloping stakes which the farmer places 

 round the sides of his waggon when he desires to 

 carry loose hay, the set bent over accomplishing 

 the purpose of the cords by which he saves his 

 property from being lost on the road. But a diffi- 

 culty arises : How can the pollen be transferred from 

 the metatarsal comb to the basket above ? Easily ; 

 for it is the left metatarsus that charges the right 



M 2 



