76 



The Honey-Makers 



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particularly on a large bumble-bee, and very beautifully seen 

 through an ordinary magnifying lens. 



Along the back of the joint containing the groove is a 

 row of stiff strong hairs, as can be seen in the illustration, 

 and these serve the purpose of an 

 ordinary hair-brush, combing or 

 brushing out the dust and pollen 

 from the hairs on the bee's head, 

 and particularly from the eye 

 hairs. 



Almost as often as the bee cleans 

 its antennas it brushes its head and 

 eyes. 



There is another important brush on the forelegs, oppo- 

 site the hanging valve, used to sweep out the teeth of the 

 groove on the opposite leg and to clean off the pollen from 

 the long branched hairs that grow upon the four upper 

 joints of the leg. 



The stiff hairs on the short foot joints are also toilet 

 brushes. 



Instruments that do so much cleaning for other parts 

 must themselves be kept clean, and this office the forelegs 

 perform for each other. The bee may often be seen 

 standing on its four hindermost legs apparently washing 

 its hands with invisible soap in invisible water. Then it 

 crosses its arms thus bringing the outside of one against 

 the brush of stiff hairs on the outside of the other, and 

 moves the two up and down until both are thoroughly 

 cleaned. 



The proboscis does not escape in the general cleaning 

 up but is lowered, grasped by both forelegs at once, and 

 vigorously polished. 



It is amusing to watch a bee standing on its four remain- 

 ing legs and holding fast to its tongue with both hands as it 



