6o 



THEODORE H. PRISON. 



nest of a field mouse. Under natural conditions after finding a 

 suitable nesting situation the queens must gather pollen and 

 nectar. The honey pot is constructed of pollen and wax and 

 filled with honey, shortly after the pollen is gathered for the 

 nucleus of the first brood mass. Occasionally I moistened a 



FIG. 4. Comb of Bremus vagans, showing: a, larval cells; b, old queen; c, 

 wax-pollen pots used for the storage of honey; d, cocoon used for the storage of 

 pollen; e, larval cell showing opening through which food is injected into the cell. 

 September 16. 



portion of the nest-lining with honey just to give it a bee-like 

 odor. After I had placed an artificial honey pot, little bits of 

 wax, and a small, compact mass of pollen in my artificial nest, 

 there remained for the queen bent on laying eggs only the con- 

 struction of the egg cells. Bumblebee queens under natural 

 conditions avoid as much labor as possible. This is shown by 

 the selection of nests of field mice, birds and other already 



