BOMBUS. 315 



other cases they bring it home collected in little masses 

 upon the corbiculum, or basket, of the posterior shanks. 

 They may be often caught thus laden, and I once cap- 

 tured a large female of B. terrestris, with the shanks and 

 plantse of both intermediate and posterior legs covered 

 with masses of thick clay, required doubtless at home 

 for some domestic repairs. The instinct of these bees 

 teaches them that where the tube of the flower is too 

 narrow for the introduction of their body, and too long 

 for even their long proboscis to reach the nectarium at 

 the bottom, they may get at the honey by piercing a 

 hole near that organ, which they know where to find, 

 and thus they readily get at the treasure that they 

 seek, lapping it through the aperture and carrying it 

 off. If, in their collecting-excursions, they are inter- 

 cepted by heavy rains, or loiter far away too long until 

 the twilight closes, they will pass the night away from 

 home, and return laden with their gatherings as soon as 

 the warmth of the sun reanimates them to activity ; 

 thus they will often sleep in flowers, and a nest therefore 

 taken at night is not always a sure indication in those 

 found within it, of its complete population. In their 

 amours, the autumnal females evince considerable co- 

 quetry to attract their partners : they place themselves 

 upon some branch in the most fervid sunshine, and here 

 they practise their cajoleries in the vibrations of their 

 wings, and allure them by their attractive postures, 

 The males are simultaneously abroad, and soon perceive 

 them. The seduction is complete, and they pounce 

 down upon them with impetuosity, but their brief in- 

 dulgence terminates in death, for with his abating vigour 

 the female repulses him, and he falls to the ground 

 never to take wing again. Amongst their insect enemies 



