OF WASHINGTON. 185 



MAY 7, 1891. 



President Marx in the chair. Thirteen members and two 

 visitors present. 



Mr. C. H. Roberts, of New York, was elected a correspond 

 ing member, and Messrs. F. H. Chittenden and A. B. Cordley 

 active members of the Society. 



Mr. Howard exhibited specimens of a species of Bombus 

 which had been attracted in great numbers to the blossoms of 

 a large horse-chestnut near his house from April 2yth to date. 

 He had watched them with some interest on account of their 

 crazy actions, which were of such a character that- he at first 

 suspected a toxic effect in the nectar of the blossoms. Many 

 of them passed the night in a drunken position on the ground 

 near the tree while others entered his house, and he had found 

 as many as six on a single window-sill on opening the shutters 

 of a morning. They readily revived and flew away. He had 

 noticed the toxic effect of Fox-glove and Wistaria on Bombus, 

 but was not sure whether the curious actions of these individ 

 uals could be ascribed to this source or to some other. He 

 desired the opinion of the members. 



Prof. Riley suggested that the cool weather then prevailing 

 might have something to do with their peculiar actions, and 

 stated that he had observed Lachnosternas exhibiting torpor 

 and languor in the same way. He identified the species ex 

 hibited by Mr. Howard as Bombus virgin icus. 



In reply, Mr. Howard stated that their peculiar actions were 

 not confined to the cool period, but were equally marked in 

 warm weather. 



Mr. Marlatt referred to the similar actions of bees that had 

 fed on the juices of partially fermented and decayed mul 

 berries, which had resulted in actually making the insect 

 drunk, and was of the opinion that some toxic principle in the 

 nectar of the horse-chestnut was the cause of the peculiar 

 actions of the bees in the present instance. 



Mr. Ashmead had observed similar effects resulting from the 

 feeding of robins on chinaberries, the birds becoming thor 

 oughly inebriated. 



Mr. Mann said that he had seen the statement that the 

 horse-chestnut is intoxicating to bees. 



