Ixxxvi 



" For many years past I have frequently observed Bom- 

 hylius discolor and major hovering over the flowers of the 

 primrose in the woods near Oxford. Though the latter 

 species is the commoner of the two, the former is more 

 frequently seen visiting this plant. In the University Parks 

 in the spring, B. major is often seen, with an occasional 

 B. discolor, hovering over the polyanthus blooms. The only 

 definite date I have for B. discolor at primrose is April 14, 

 1906, when I took about a dozen nearly all at the flowers 

 of the primrose in Tubney Wood, near Oxford. I have 

 often seen other small Diptera in the corolla, but have kept 

 no record of the species or group. 



" Other insects often seen when the flowers are picked or 

 shaken are Meligethes and another small beetle, and sometimes 

 a species of thrips." 



Mr. Collins' experience is as follows : — ■ 



" I have often seen Bomhylius discolor Mik., visiting prim- 

 roses in spring and have noticed that they are fond of resting 

 on dry oak-leaves on the ground when not at the flowers. 

 I have often seen it on Boar's Hill, Tubney, Cothill and other 

 places near Oxford, but always in woods where ]3rimroses 

 were plentiful and in flower. 



" I have also found the Staphylinid beetle Eusphalerum 

 primulae Steph., abundant in primrose flowers, near Oxford. 

 They occur as late as June at Tubney, Wytham and Stowe 

 Wood. The Nitidulid beetle Meligethes picipes Sturm., is 

 also plentiful in primrose flowers in spring. I have seen 

 them covered with yellow pollen coming out of the corolla 

 of the flower when it was picked." 



Mr. Hamm and Mr. Collins agreed with him in the belief 

 that Bomhylius, although a visitor to other flowers, sought 

 the primrose far more commonly than any other. 



Mr. Miller Christy, in the paper quoted on p. Ixxxv, 

 considers the visits of these insects and certain others are 

 insufficient to account for cross-fertilisation, and believes 

 that moths are the jorobable main agents. It is, however, 

 of importance to inquire how far the primrose is crossed 

 legitimately. The late Prof. Weldon, F.R.S., had told him 

 that when he was teaching at Cooper's Hill and wanted to 



