244 Journal New York Entomological Society. f^'o^- -^i^- 



On July 21 another visit to the region of the colonies was made to 

 get males, if possible, but no bees of either sex were seen. On the 

 22d of August, however, the bees were out in full force, but only 

 females were noticed. On this trip numbers of the bees were found 

 flying over a road-side puddle on which they alighted and were blown 

 over its surface by the wind to the opposite side. This seemed to be 

 done for mere sport for as soon as the leeward side was reached 

 they rose and flew to the windward side, alighting as before. Whether 

 or not they actually lapped up water with which to moisten the soil 

 when digging their burrows I was unable to observe, as the wind 

 wafted them so rapidly across the small pool, but I rather suspect that 

 this was the case. 



Besides the colonies located the year before no less than five 

 others were discovered, none of them, however, so large as the prin- 

 cipal one by the meadow. These new colonies were fully a quarter 

 of a mile from the marsh, and two of them were in a steep embank- 

 ment. 



On a fifth trip, on Sept. 3, the region was visited once more, but 

 the bees were all gone. Scarcely a turret survived the almost daily 

 showers of the ten previous days, and irregular holes merely marked 

 the entrances to the cells. Quite a number of the burrows were un- 

 covered and larvjE from one fourth to nearly full grown were found 

 coiled around the moist and slimy pollen ball which had decreased in 

 size in proportion as the larva had increased. 



Though larvae were not rare, fully 95 per cent, were dead as the 

 result of mould due to the continuous humid condition of the atmos- 

 phere. It will be interesting to note whether on this account the bees 

 will be reduced in numbers in 1911. 



Fig. I 

 Fig. 2 



Fig. 3 

 Fig. 4 

 Fig- S 

 Fig. 6 

 Fig. 7 

 Fig. 8 

 All natural size. 



Explanation of Plate VII. 



Emphor homhiformis, female. 



Emphor bombiformis, male. 



Plaster casts of burrows. 



Turrets from the entrances to the burrows. 



Pellets ejected in digging the burrow. 



Pollen balls. 



Pollen ball in situ. 



Cocoons. 



