88 LEG OF HONEY BEE 



neither of the parents is endowed with this 

 excessive modification of the hind legs. It is 

 admitted to be * a very special adaptation 

 appearing in the majority of the individuals 

 of each generation, though nothing of the sort 

 occurs in either parent.' * 



Among the many functions of the workers' 

 hind legs is that of acting as receptacles for 

 carrying pollen to the nest or hive. The parts 

 most modified are the tibia and the first joint 

 of the tarsus or foot. In many bees other 

 parts of the body carry pollen. Sometimes 

 the hind legs are thick and densely covered 

 with hairs that hold the pollen in a dry 

 state until it is carried home. 



At times the outer face of the tibia is free 

 from hairs except at the margins, in which 

 case pollen plates are supposed to exist. In 

 this case the pollen is said to be mixed with 

 nectar from the bee's mouth and rendered 

 plastic. 



The inner side of both tibia and tarsus, 

 especially the latter, is covered with hairs; 

 * Cambridge Natural History. 



