NATURAL GROUPING OF BREMID^E. 403 



these may be mentioned (i) the short antennae of the males, (2) 

 the similarity in form between males and workers, and (3) the 

 extreme shortness of the head. 6 This last character is coupled 





Fig. 3 



FIG. 3. Comb of Bremns impatiens, a typical example of the Cryploschadonenta. 

 Natural size. 



with a short tongue, which makes it necessary for this group of 

 bumblebees to perforate long-tubed flowers in order to secure the 

 nectar. Because of this habit they have been given the name 

 Disteleologists (cf. Haeckel, '66; M tiller, '79; and von Buttel- 

 Reepen, '14), a subject which the writer intends to discuss in 

 another paper. 



The Phaneroschadonenta also have the following interesting 

 characteristics: (i) they construct usually near the center ot 

 the comb one or more bulky, waxen tubes in which they store 

 large quantities of pollen (cf . Figs. 4 and 5) ; (2) the wax which 

 they produce is unusually dark and brittle, as if mixed with black 

 soil; and (3) their males, like those of the genus Psithyrus, are 

 rather sluggish as compared with those of other species. 7 The 

 writer would here also like to point out that the Phanero- 

 schadonenta appear early in the spring, that they do not nest on 



6 Cf . Radowszkowski ('84), Friese and von Wagner ('10), Vogt ('ii), Franklin 

 Ci2/'i3), and Kriiger ('20). 



7 Cf. Schmiedeknecht ('78), Hoffer ('82, '82/'83). Saunders ('09), Sladen ('12), 

 and Prison ('17). 



