86 



Marygold, Helenium autumnale, Actinomeris squarrosa, 

 Laburnum, Berberis, Aesculus glabra, A. ttava, Crocus, 

 TropaH)lum, Caniia, Gerardia, Cytisus, Linaria vulgaris, 

 Solidago, Impatiens fulva, Cnicus horridulus. Ribes aurea, 

 yellow, with long calyx tube, is visited by bumble bees, but 

 they never visit the myriads of Potentilla Canadensis, same 

 color, and rarely the more showy Forsythia. They also 

 discriminate between dandelion and buttercup, and seek 

 out Hypoxis from among Potentilla, Oenothera pumila and 

 buttercup ! 



By the 1st to 15th of June many flowering shrubs, fruit 

 trees, etc., are past blooming, and bright colored flowers 

 are for a time rather scarce ; then, many dull, green colored 

 flowers appear, and one unfamiliar with the fact would be 

 surprised to know to what extent these inconspicuous flowers 

 are visited by bees. In several instances while walking- 

 through thickets, not noticing anything but green leaves, 

 my attention was attracted by the humming of bees. They 

 were found to be in great numliers on the perfectly green 

 pistillate flowers of Nyssa sylvatica in one instance, and on 

 Gaylussacia frondosa in another. These bees had left /r/.s, 

 Sisyr'mchium, Cnicus horridulus, Kalmia, blackberry, but- 

 tercups, etc., and for the sake of a green flower? Not at 

 all. The nectar of the flowers just coming into bloom was 

 undoubtedly the chief attraction. For several years I have 

 observed the fondness of honey bees for the spicy-scented 

 Ptelia trifoliata, and have awaited the time of its flowering 

 to see the thousands of clustered green flowers about to 

 blossom, visited by many honey bees eagerly watching their 

 opening, and that as long as a blossom remained they con- 

 tinued their visits. Amjjelopsis Veitchei, green with small 

 flowers, often entirely covered by the large-leaved foliage, 

 petals and stamens soon falling, yet they are much visited 

 l)y honey bees ! 



