1875.) Modern Entomology. 233 
It must be remarked that by far the majority of flower- 
haunting insects are hairy, a circumstance which enables the 
pollen to adhere more readily to their limbs and _ bodies. 
The gradation in this respect from Prosopis, through Sphe- 
codes and Nomada to Andrena, Osmia, and Anthrophora, 
and finally, to the true Humble-bees, is described and 
illustrated in this work. A somewhat parallel arrangement 
is pointed out in those flowers which are fertilised by the 
agency of the wind, without the mediation of insects. 
In these, such as the alder, the hop, and the wheat, 
the stigma is branched or hairy, so that particles of pollen 
borne along by the wind may more certainly adhere. We 
find here some interesting facts which go to prove that bees, 
in their quest for honey, are not actuated by some unvarying 
instinct, but both vary individually in intelligence and are 
capable of modifying their operations. H. Miiller “ watched 
a female humble bee (Bombus terrestris) examining an Aqui- 
legia; she made several vain attempts to suck the honey, but 
after a while, having apparently satisfied herself that she was 
unable so to do, bit a hole through the corolla. Having 
thus secured the honey she visited several other flowers, 
biting holes through them without making any attempt to 
suck them first—conscious, apparently, that she was unable 
todo so. ... Any one who has watched bees in green- 
houses will see that they are neither confined by instinct to 
special flowers, nor do they visit all flowers indiscriminately. 
It would also appear that individual bees differ in their way 
of treating flowers. Some humble-bees suck the honey 
of the French-bean and scarlet-runner in the legitimate 
manner, while others cut a hole in the tube and thus reach 
it, so to say, surreptitiously. Dr. Ogle has observed that the 
same bee always proceeded in the same manner, some always 
by the mouth of the flower, and some always by cutting a 
hole. He particularly mentions that this was the case with 
bees of one and the same species, and infers, therefore, that 
the different individuals differ from each other in their 
degrees of intelligence.” 
Into the admirable exposition of the successive modifica- 
tions which the mouths of inse¢ts have undergone, so as to 
profit by their visits to flowers, space does not permit us to 
enter. 
Of both the works before us we feel bound, in conclusion, 
to express a favourable opinion. Sir J. Lubbock, whose 
treatise forms not the least interesting member of the 
valuable ‘‘ Nature Series,” points the way to a region where 
patient research cannot fail to be amply rewarded. 
