1901.] 211 



Bombua terrestris, L., var. ferrugineus, Schmied., J , 14, "^ , 5, + 1, Castle Bell- 

 ver, Marcli 25tli, 26fh, and 3( tli ; Miramar, March 27tli ; PoUensa, Puig de Maria, 

 April 2ik1 and 5f.h (abundant on flowers). All the specimens taken of B. terrestris 

 were of this form, which differs from the type in having the hairs of the tibiae 

 fulvous ; it occurs in S. W. France, Spain, and Portugal, but the specimens 1 have 

 of tills species from Algeria, are of tlie type form. 



Apia melUfica, Linn., ^ , 33, abundant cverywliere in Majorca, Minorca, Talayot 

 of Trepuco, April 6th. 1 $ , Thomas and Pocock, not localised, 1900. 



Thus 48 species were obtained. The number captured in June 

 and July of the present year will turn out to be far larger. 



Woking : July, 1901. 



SUMMARY OP AN AETICLE BY PROF. FELIX PLATEAU, INTITULED 

 "LES SYRPHIDES, ADMIRENT ILS LES COULEURS DES FLEURS ?" 



[Prof. Plateau is well 'known as an uncompromising antagonist 

 of certain popular theories on the attractions of flowers for insects 

 (and kindred subjects), and the evolutional ideas connected therewith. 

 He has forwarded to us a number of recent articles by him on the 

 subject, and one cannot but admire the closeness of observation in his 

 numerous experiments, even if some are not prepared to accept his 

 conclusions. We give below the summary of a paper published in 

 the " Memoires de la Societe Zoologique de France," vol. xiii (1900). 

 —Eds.]. 



1.— The number of closely described supposed proofs of admiration on the part of 

 insects for the colour of flowers is very small, and is reduced to seven in all 

 among the thousands of observations made by a series of naturalists. 



2. — Tlie only insects signalized are Syrphida, that is to say, insects with limited 

 faculties inferior to those of Hymenoptera. 



3. — According to my personal observations the SyrphidcB offer their admirational 

 attentions not only to flowers without brilliant colours, but to those which 

 are green or greenish, and nearly of the colour of the foliage. 



4. — According to my own observations, and of those authors whose names are indi- 

 cated in the text, visits of Syrphida, often abundant, to green or greenish 

 flowers, have been proved in 35 species of plants, belonging to 22 different 

 families. 



5. — According to my observations tSyrphidce frequently hover before vegetable bodies 

 of any kind other than flowers, such as green leaves, buds closed and green, 

 green fruits, green or brown twigs. 



6. — My experiences show that Syrphidm effect their stationary so-called admirational 

 flight before objects, having no analogy with flowers, nor even with living 

 vegetable organs, such as the finger or hand of the experimenter, a stick, a 

 piece of furniture, a net. 



7. — As a consequence the admiration of insects for flowers does not exist. 



