ul EPPE-HISTORY OF SOMLUS 47 
the first attempt, but, just as she is about to dislodge 
them she appears to be often seized with doubt as 
to whether they will fall into the cell, and, turning 
round, puts her head into the cell: having thus re- 
ascertained its exact position, and perhaps reassured 
herself of its suitability, she again steps forward, and 
this time lets fall her load. The queen, should she 
be near, is much interested in the arrival of the 
pollen, and on one occasion I saw her nibble some 
of it off the worker's leg while the latter was 
engaged fora moment with her head in the cell. 
When the weather is warm the workers are 
particularly industrious in the cool of the evening, 
bringing home heavy loads until dusk. At night 
the colony is even more animated than in the day- 
time, for the whole population is now at home, and 
each bee is occupied, some building, some feeding 
the larve, but the great majority slowly creeping 
over the brood in all directions, stopping now and 
then for a moment or two to spread their bodies 
over some portion of it. No special attention is 
paid to the queen. 
The surface-dwelling species often pass in and 
out of the nest through a covered way under the 
grass, more or less lined with fragments of dead 
grass or moss, and extending from four to twelve 
inches from the nest. 
The nests of the underground species are badly 
ventilated, and in populous colonies, during the heat 
of the day, one or more workers will station them- 
selves on top of the comb or at the lower end of the 
