82 AMONGST THE BEES AT WORK 



fading to grey after a few days' exposure to the 

 sun, is the male, and the black one the female. 

 The male rarely settles, but flies about courting 

 the female. Often two or three males may be 

 seen dodging and crossing each other in their 

 flight. The name of this bee is Anthophora. 

 It is quite a harbinger of spring, and I mention it 

 especially as it so forces itself on one's attention, 

 and there are few who will not meet with it 

 without going especially on its quest. 



Another opportunity of seeing several kinds 

 of solitary bees flying together may be secured 

 by standing on a sunny day in front of a sallow 

 bush in full blossom, I mean what is commonly 

 called " palm." Its catkins, when the anthers 

 are out and covered with yellow pollen, are most 

 attractive to all kinds of bees, humble bees, 

 hive bees, and solitary bees, and any one who 

 can manage to watch a sallow bush for some time 

 will realize that there are many kinds of bees at 

 work. Of course it is difficult, without special 

 knowledge, to recognize which are bees and which 

 are flies amongst the many which are coming 

 and going, but the yellow-pollened legs of the 

 female bees will generally betray them, as well 



