THE FLOWER AND THE BEE 



rods, and asters. Xenoglossa pruinosa confines itself to Cu- 

 curbita Pepo, or the common field-pumpkin; while Megachile 

 campanula, one of the leaf-cutting bees, is a monotropic visitor 

 of the bellflower Campanula americana. Many other instances 

 are recorded, and many more will no doubt be discovered when 

 our bee fauna is better known. 



This is certainly a very singular habit on the part of bees, 

 and one which few would be likely to foresee. On the con- 

 trary, it is generally supposed that bees fly about sipping sweets 

 indiscriminately, as they are so commonly represented by the 

 poets. 



"He woos the Poppy and weds the Peach, 

 Inveigles Daffodilly, 

 And then like a tramp abandons each 

 For the gorgeous Canada Lily." 



It is really getting unsafe for poets to write about Nature in 

 their old haphazard way, trusting chiefly to their imagination 

 as a guide. Fancy can supply nothing half so wonderful as 

 the true facts about flowers and insects. Let us consider what 

 theories naturalists have advanced to explain this curious 

 habit. 



In Kerner's day only a few oligotropic bees were known, 

 and he believed that they gave the preference to certain flowers 

 because they found their odor so highly attractive. But it is 

 incredible that so many bees should be dominated in their flight 

 to such an extent by various floral odors, and besides they not 

 infrequently visit several flowers which differ in scent. No 

 doubt, though, bees have their preferences in odors and nectars, 

 and probably they prefer pollen that has a roughened or spined 

 surface to that which is smooth. 



Another explanation claims that the bee fauna is as large as 

 the flora will support and that female oligotropic bees have 



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