There are marked differences between the three pairs of legs of a
worker-bee. The first are provided with combs, by which the delicate
antennæ are cleaned, while the third are chiefly remarkable for peculiar
pollen brushes on the feet, and a depression or “pollen basket” on the
outer side of the shin. The hairy feet brush pollen into the baskets,
and when of a dry nature a little honey is ejected from the mouth on to
the grains, so as to stick them together. Another peculiarity of the
third leg is the nature of the joint between shin and foot, which
constitutes a sort of pincers useful in manipulating wax.
The wax of which the cells of the honeycomb are constructed is supposed
to be secreted by an organ situated in the abdomen, or belly, of the
bee; but, in addition to wax, another substance much resembling it, but
not identical, called propolis, is elaborated from the juices of certain
plants, and employed to line the inner surface of the hive. The cells
are hexagonal in shape, that is, having six equal sides--the most
economical form as regards space--and are of two kinds, namely,
store-cells, which are filled with honey, as a reserve store of food,
and cradle-cells, in which the eggs are deposited.