POLLINATION OF THE BRITISH PRIMULAS. 109 
Taste [Tue Primrose (P. vulgaris). 
No. of 
Obsvn Date 
| 1882. 
L | Mar. 8 
| 
| 
2. | Mar. 15. 
D. Apr. 7 
| 1883. 
4, | Apr, 5 
| 
5. | Apr. 9 
| 
6. | May 1 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 1884. 
7. Mar. 16. 
8. Apr. 3 
1906. 
9. | Apr. 13. 
1907. 
10. Mar. : 
| Locality and Insect Visitors observed. 
Garden, Chignal St, James, Essex.—A Hive Bee (Apis mellifica L.), after 
rejecting the flowers of a red Primrose, visited 14 ordinary Primroses (some 
of them twice) on four plants growing close together, but seemed to find a 
difficulty in reaching the nectar and rejected some flowers altogether. 
Westley Wood, Saffron Walden, Esser. —A small dark Bee (Anthophora 
acervorum L.) visited rapidly 4 or 5 flowers, growing near together, and 
seemed to gather nectar from each. 
Lawn Wood, Langley, Essex.—Saw two Humble Bees (? sp.) rise from flowers, 
as I approached them, having apparently visited the flowers. 
‘estley Wood, Saffron Walden.—About noon, on a fine hot day, I saw a Sulphur 
Butterfly (Gonepteryx rhamni L.) visit five flowers on as many plants; also 
a Small White Butterfly (Pieris rape L.) visit one flower and then fly away ; 
also a medium-sized Humble Bee (Bombus sp.) visit two flowers on one 
plant, 1 on another plant, hover over others, and then visit several more, 
finally flying right away. (There were no flowers, other than Primroses, in 
bloom in the wood at the time.) 
Westley Wood (as ahove).-—Saw two Humble Bees of the same species (both of 
which I caught) visit many flowers. 
Hyde Wood, Little Yeldham, Essex.— About noon, on a hot day, in a sheltered 
cut-down part of the wood, I saw a Bee (Anthophora acervorum L. g ) visit 
many flowers of the hybrid P. vulgaris X elatior; also another, of same 
species, but more inconstant, visit in succession 16 Primroses, 5 Violets, 
l Primrose, 4 Violets, 9 Primroses, and 1 Violet—56 flowers altogether; 
also a large, black, orange-banded Humble Bee (Bombus sp.) visit several 
Primroses and afterwards various flowers of. Seilla nutans, Viola, and Ranun- 
culus Ficaria ; also another (Bombus? sp.) visit 18 flowers of Primrose and 
P. vulgaris X elatior, but reject 2 Oxlips (P. elatior) on one plant; also 
various other Bees (? 4. acervorum) visit many Primroses; also several 
Bee-flies (Bombylius sp.) visit various Primroses. 
Roadside bank, Doddinghurst, Essex.—Saw a Sulphur Butterfly (Gonepteryx 
rhamni L.) visit one Primrose. 
Wood, Laindon, Essex.— Saw several Bees (? A. acervorum L. and another species) 
and many Bee-flies (Bombylius sp.) busy visiting Primroses, which were very 
abundant, 
‘Garden, Chignal St. James, Essex.—Saw a small blackish Bee (? Anthophora 
acervorum L.) visit 6 or 8 Primroses in quick succession, when I disturbed 
him by trying to catch him. 
Bushy Wood, Broomfield, Essex.—During the afternoon of a hot bright day, in 
a sheltered cut-down portion of the wood, where there were practically no 
other flowers out, I watched many Humble Bees, of at least three species, 
also (I believe) a few Hive Bees, and many Bee-flies (Bombylius sp.); all very 
busy visiting Primroses with remarkable constancy—due, no doubt, to the 
absence of other flowers. I saw a Humble Bee (? B. hortorum) visit 68 
Primroses in rapid succession ; also another (? same species) 131 Primroses 
similarly. (These two Bees, when visiting many flowers on the same plant, 
crawled actively from one flower to another, and occasionally pulled open a 
partly-expanded flower.) I saw also four smaller blackish Bees, one of which 
visited 18 Primroses; another (? the same individual) 8 Primroses ; another 
