THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 15 



E.vporiaiion of Hnmhle-hres to New Zealand. — Some 

 monlhs ago I was waited upon by a gentleman who gave me 

 to understand that he called by desire of Mr. Frank Buckland 

 to ask my advice as to the best method to be adopted in 

 order to introduce some species of our humble-bees into 

 New Zealand, the object being the fertilisation of the seeds 

 of red clover, there being no bee in the colony whose tongue 

 is long enough to effect that purpose. After some considera- 

 tion of the matter 1 gave my opinion, and I still adhere to it. 

 I have been greatly surprised by reading an extract from 

 'Nature' of the 14th of October last, by which I learn that 

 Mr. Frank Buckland has sent two nests of humble-bees, 

 packed in their own nests in two boxes, under the charge of 

 a member of the New Zealand Council, — I suppose of the 

 Canterbury Acclimatisation Society. I should be glad to 

 hear of the success of this undertaking, but for several 

 reasons I am of opinion that the result will prove an utter 

 failure: be that as it may, 1 wish it to be distinctly under- 

 stood that the method adopted is not one of my recommend- 

 ing. On reading that "the bees were packed in tiieir own 

 nests," I conclude the species was one of the surface-builders 

 — "moss-builders" they are usually erroneously called, since 

 the majority of the nests of these bees have little or no moss 

 used in their construction. The species is not particularised, 

 but I may, I think, safely conclude that it was Bombus Mus- 

 corum or B. senilis. These are not such hardy species as 

 some of those that construct their nests under ground, and 

 therefore not species I should recommend for exportation. 

 The surface-building bees found in Great Britain are seven 

 in number, and all these finish their labours and disappear 

 several weeks before the hardier species. The nests sent 

 would, I presume, contain male, female, and worker bees. 

 My observations of humble-bees have extended over thirty- 

 five years, and 1 believe that the impregnation of females 

 never takes place in the nest; 1 also believe that it always 

 takes place in the open air, and that no impregnated female 

 ever returns to the nest. When this act has taken place, the 

 female, in my opinion, at once seeks for a suitable hyber- 

 naculum in which to yjass the winter. I therefore conclude 

 that none of the females in the nests sent are impregnated, 

 and I anticipate that the broods will perish on the voyage; 

 or, if by great care any arrive at New Zealand, it will only 



