THE FLOWER AND THE BEE 



While the bee was away the flowers were transposed, the 

 red blossom being put in the place of the purple, and the 

 purple in the place of the red. The bee returned to the purple 

 flower. 



After the bee had left for the hive the flowers were again 

 transposed. On its return the bee manifested a little hesita- 

 tion, but soon went to the purple blossom. 



While the bee was absent, the flowers were still again 

 transposed, but on its return it flew directly to the purple 

 flower. 



Although the experiment was continued further, it is not 

 necessary to give additional details, since it is clear that the 

 honey-bee was able to distinguish the purple sweet pea from 

 the red one. In the same way a honey-bee showed that it was 

 able to distinguish between the red and yellow flowers of Portu- 

 laca grandiflora; and the greenish white and purple flowers of 

 Cobcea scandens. 



In another experiment blue and red slips of paper 3 inches 

 long by 1 inch wide were used instead of flowers. After the 

 bee had made a few visits to the blue paper, on which there was 

 a small quantity of honey, the red slip of paper with a little 

 honey on it was placed 6 inches to the right of it. The bee 

 returned to the blue paper, which still remained in its original 

 position. The blue and red papers were now transposed 9 

 times and in each instance the bee returned to the blue paper, 

 from which it gathered its load of honey. In another experi- 

 ment a honey-bee distinguished with equal ease between blue 

 and yellow slips of paper. Bee-keepers have long recognized the 

 ability of bees to distinguish between different colors, and at 

 times paint their hives red, white, and blue in order to prevent 

 young queens from entering the wrong hive after mating. 



If bees can so easily distinguish between different colors, how, 



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