THE BUMBLEBEE. 67 



fly into it and get into the water, where they must 

 remain. When all have gone into the jug, or settled, 

 disturb the nest again. Repeat once or twice. Then all 

 those of the occupants which have been accustomed to 

 defend the nest will be in the jug ; and the few remaining 

 may be sprinkled with water, and picked up while wet 

 and unable to fly, or caught singly in a net. Obviously, 

 the entire population of the nest will not be caught in 

 this way, for in the daytime some are absent foraging in 

 the field. Why do the bumblebees go into the jug ? 



Whatever the method of taking the nest, all its occu- 

 pants, as well as the nest itself, should be preserved for 

 future study. The bumblebees will not all be killed at 

 once by either of the methods suggested ; but they may 

 be killed in alcohol or in a cyanide bottle. Those taken 

 in a jug may be poured out with the water, and picked 

 up with forceps before their wings have dried. 



Study the adult bumblebees found in the nest. Find 

 among them four sorts of individuals : 



1. Numerous small ones, built for activity, the workers 

 (undeveloped females). 



2. Others of larger size, but of the same general shape 

 as the workers, the small females. 



3. Others about the size of the small females, or some- 

 what larger, but thicker, clumsier, and more hairy, the 

 males (or drones). 



4. A few very large ones (an inch long), the large 

 females (or queens). Until late in the season, but one 

 of these will be found in each nest. 



The Nest. Study the nest. Note : 



1. The location of it. 



2. The materials used in its construction. 



3. The structure of it. 

 (a) The entrance to it. 



