Th( 



Legs 



17 



were, though occasionally when needing its forefoot for 

 support it will have but one with which to rub its 

 tongue. 



Butler treats us to the following : — 

 " Her rough and dew-clawed feet, apt to take hold at 

 the first touch, are in number six : that she may stand 

 fast upon four, while she useth the other two to wipe her 

 eyes, her wings, her tongue, or any other part." 



Neither are the jaws neglected, but occasionally are 

 opened and polished by their tidy owner. 



The top of the bee's head, the thorax 

 above and below and the upper joints of 

 all the legs are clothed with long branched 

 hairs for collecting pollen. These " gath- 

 ering hairs " are admirably planned to 

 catch and hold the pollen grains that 

 touch them, and are found on all pollen- 

 gathering bees. The pollen that adheres to the legs and 

 body of the bee is a valuable part of its food, and is by it 

 brushed together and saved. 



The second pair of legs is larger and longer than the first 

 pair. These legs have no antennae cleaners, but at nearly 

 the same place on the tibia is a long stout spur used in 

 cleaning the wings and body as well as 

 to push out the contents of the pollen 

 baskets that are located on the third 

 pair of legs. The metatarsus of this 

 leg is covered with a coarse brush and 

 the bee can often be seen with one 

 of its middle legs over its back ener- 

 getically rubbing the pollen from the 

 branched hairs there and frequently 

 lowering the leg so employed to rub it between the back 

 legs and relieve it of the accumulated load. 



