LIFE-HISTORY OF BOMBUS .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 for a 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 larvae, 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 



