PLATYPHORA LUBBOCKll. 435 



wing ; third veinlefc slightly undulated, ending very 

 wide from the second ; fourth faint, not reaching the 

 end of the wing. 



This description having been made from a specimen 

 gummed down on card, though in very good condi- 

 tion, I am unable to decide on the sex, or to examine 

 the face, palpi, base of antennae, or coxse. 



before. Tlie bees, however, did not find the honey, 

 though when it was once shown them they came to it 

 readily enough. Other experiments with a microphone 

 were without results. Everyone knows that bees when 

 swarming are Dopularly, and have been ever since the 

 time of Aristotle, supposed to be influenced by clanging 

 kettle'! &c. Experienced apiarists are now disposed to 

 doubt whether the noise has really any effect, but Sir 

 John suggests that even if it has, with reference to 

 which he expressed no opinion, it is possible that what 

 the bees hear arc not the loud low sounds, but the 

 hitrher overtones at the verge of or beyond our range of 

 liearinc. As regards the industry of wasps, he timed a 

 bee and a wasp, for each of which he provided a store of 

 honey, and ho found that the wasp began earlier m t^e 

 mornin"(at four a.m.), and worked on later ui the day. He 

 did not^ however, quote this as proving greater industry 

 on the part of the wasp, as it might be that they are 

 less sensitive to cold. Moreover, though the bee s pro- 

 boscis is admirably adapted to extract honey from 

 tu ular flowers, when the honey is exposed, as in this 

 case the wasp appears able to swallow it more rapidly. 

 This' particular wasp began work at four in the morning, 

 and went on without anv rest or intermission till a 

 quarter to eight in the evening, during which time she 

 paid Sir John 115 visits. ^ 



