38 



sips honey from the nectary, as well as gathering pollen from the anthers, and thus 

 accomplishing a double purpose in its visit. 



" 2. Bombus ? invariably alights on the lower lip of the flower, which it 



enters in the ordinary position of its race, with the back upwards : the mesothoracic 

 sections press the anthers against the hairy surface to which I have already alluded, 

 and there remains on the mesothorax of the bee a yellow stripe of pollen, which, 

 however, does not appear to be a desideratum, but on the contrary rather an annoy- 

 ance, as the bee will often settle on a leaf, and passing its fore legs over its alary seg- 

 ments try to scrape or brush away the pollen which clings there. Although the 

 mouth of the corolla is greatly distended as the bee enters, still the presence of the 

 latter when entirely within the tube is not perceptible. 



" 3. Bombus ? alights on the common flower-stalk, just below the flower, and 



with its sharp scissars-like mandibles cuts a hole in the corolla close to the nectary, 

 which in the true Antirrhinums is not elongated into a spur as in Linaria vulgaris and 

 its congeners : cutting the aperture is scarcely the work of a second : when accom- 

 plished, the tongue or rather labial apparatus is immediately thrust through the 

 aperture, and the delicious liquid abstracted : it frequently, indeed most frequently, 

 happens, that the honey has been already consumed by one or other of the species 

 already noticed, and the difference in the bearing of the bee is very remarkable : when 

 disappointed, she immediately flies away with a sharp angry hum, as though out of 

 temper: but when successful, she imbibes the nectar with much deliberation, and 

 apparent satisfaction ; and makes a kind of purring noise, probably with her wings, 

 while engaged in the agreeable occupation : having finished the task, she strokes her 

 head and antenna? with her fore feet, somewhat as a cat washes her face ; and rests at 

 least a minute before seeking another meal. 



" 4. Bombus ? a very large bee, which alighting on the lower lip of the 



corolla opens the mouth of the flower, and whilst standing in this position, thrusts its 

 enormous labial apparatus into the tube until it reaches the nectary. I believe this 

 is the female of No. 2, all of which I found to be neuters, and I have so seldom had 

 an opportunity of watching its operations that I should not have recorded them, had 

 not Mr. Stainton informed me he had frequently observed the same habits in a large 

 Bombus in Devonshire." 



Mr. Westwood observed, that it did not appear to have occurred to Mr. Newman 

 that a bee might operate on a flower in different ways, guided thereto by its wants. If 

 it required pollen it would enter with its back downward, in order, as Mr. Newman 

 had observed, that it might place its abdomen in contact with the anthers ; but if 

 seeking honey, it would enter the flower in the ordinary manner. 



It was announced that Part II. of Vol. I. new series of the Transactions was 

 ready for delivery. 



