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olized by hornets to the cxckision of every other insect. 

 There were more hornets assembled than I had seen together 

 at one time. The tlowers were small, inconspicuous, bell- 

 shaped and perfectly green. Would it be safe to say from 

 this incident, that hornets prefer a green color and a bell- 

 shaped flower? If they do prefer it, and our Symphori- 

 carpos is not to be found within two hundred miles, what 

 are the thousands of hornets to do at this season of the 

 year? it blooms in August. Evidently they must be con- 

 tent with other colors, green flowers being scarce, or conflne 

 themselves to killing insects. 



I have seen hornets on garden leeks having a similar 

 shallow, liell flower with colors from green to purple; also 

 on the small green bell flowers of Gai/lmsacia frondosa, 

 but as a matter of fact I have seen more hornets on other 

 colors than on green. Referring to my memoranda, they 

 were found on Symphoricarpos, Eupatorium, Clematis, 

 Rhus, Helianthus, Linden, Rudbeckia, Clethra, Monarda, 

 Asclepias, Solidago, Ribes nigra, Spira?a salicifolia, Gay- 

 lussacia frondosa, etc. 



On the other hand, I have examined numerous other 

 green flowers without ever seeing a hornet. 



I infer, therefore, that the hornets were especially pleased 

 with Symphoricarpos, on account of its abundant nectar and 

 the ease and convenience with which it could be ol)tained. 



I, of course, do not pretend to an exhaustive research in 

 regard to hornets. Doubtless if my observations were 

 continued, other green flowers would be found to be fre- 

 quented by hornets, and at the same time the list of colored 

 flowers would be extended. 



We do not find in studying the habits of the larger winged 

 insects that any particular color exercises such a fascination 

 as to attract especially to the neglect of others of a different 

 hue. Mliller maintains that white and yellow flowers arc 

 frequented by inferior fly-like insects, but that the nobler 

 honey bees and bumble bees have a preference for purple or 



