39 
‘pense of the lower portions of the stem, with an actual loss of weight 
in the whole. Eps. 
63. Bees on Gerardia pedieularia, L.——Happening to sit down to-day 
by what might bé called a copse of Gerardia pedicularia—it was so 
abundant and shrubby—I was interested in observing the humble- 
bees who were winging about the flowers. To my surprise, I no- 
ticed that the noisy fellows did not enter the tube of the corolla, 
but appeared to alight upon its base. Upon closer examination I 
found that on every flower (there was no exception) was a perfora- 
tion upon the upper side of the corolla near its junction with the 
calyx. Through this opening, which I presume of course is formed 
by the bees themselves, they appeared to derive the nectar. The 
air was heavy with the perfume of the flowers, and the humble bees 
were very numerous. In the books at this moment at my service, 
I find no notice of this “unkindest cut of all.” I suppose, however, 
that it cannot have escaped the attention of the many botanists now 
investigating the insect fertilization of plants. After a long inspec- © 
tion I found no bee approaching the flower from the front—although 
the door stood wide open, and to human seeming the entrance was 
as easy. I have known of this trick of the bees—and seen it men- 
tioned in regard to other plants—but I do not remember that the 
Gerardia was among them. If this is the invariable habit of the 
bees, can they be instrumental at all in the distribution of the 
pollen, or is the plant also visited in a legitimate manner by some 
less sneaking insect ? 
Providence, R. I., Sept. 3d. W. W. Bary. 
This is the first example in our knowledge of native flowers slit 
by bees, and would seem to indicate that in this instance sc Bia 
not been “selected” in adaptation to each other. 
64. Note from Prof, A. M. Edwards,—A few days since, when after — 
Diatoms, I found our garden Portulaca, the brilliant red one, out 
on the made ground of the marshes back of Hoboken. It was in 
flower and evidently carried out by the carts which were at that: 
time transporting rubbish to make streets across the marsh. I no- 
ticed nearly a dozen plants widely scattered. — May we not expect 
after a time to have this beautiful flower wild in this country ? 
My friend, Mr. M. C. Cooke of London, whose excellent “ Hand- 
book of British Fungi” is just published, is at work on American 
Fungi. He lately records the following on flowering plants I sent 
him.— Keidum Viole, DC.; E, Asterum, Schw. ; HE. Grossularie, DC.; 
Dacoutii Schw.; Trichobasis Sagittarie, 
West. The last is now recorded __ 
for the first time out of Europe. nae ee: = 
With respect to Diatomacez, a year or 
the Lyceum of Natural Hist: leas so 
Considered, species of Gomphonema on the same stipes ; proving 
them to be but “forms” of one species. I now find in a stream on 
Union Hill, N. J., Gom ma constrictum, capitatum, acuminatum 
and cristatum, with intermediate forms all on the same ve? 9g ‘This 
_ fact, with others relating to the same subject, will be fu “heme om : 
of with illustrations, in the annals of the Lyceum, and show how 
oe ES ek Se te ee 
ory that I had found at least two, so- : 
