266 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
experience in this country that I should like to record the following 
observations. 
“JT was staying at the hill-station of Mussoorie in September and 
October of last year,—a time when the wild dahlias* were at their greatest 
perfection, and formed a striking feature in the scenery,—there were 
numbers of other wild flowers of various species in profusion, but the 
dahlias formed the particular attraction of the Aculeate Hymenoptera, and 
my richest collecting ground was always where the dahlias grew thickest, 
my most favoured spot and warmest corner being ata place called Wolfs- 
burn Road, Laudun, where I could stand up to my waist in a rich bank of 
dahlias of all colours, and collect around me in the shortest possible 
time the greatest number of specimens and variety of species to be ob- 
tained anywhere in or near Massoorie. I am not certain of many of 
the species captured, but the following genera were strongly represented, 
especially the first three:—Bombus, Apis, Vespa, Andrena, Halictus, 
Prosopis, Polistes, Odynerus, aud others; besides which, had I been collecting 
them, I might have taken many species of butterflies, day-flying moths, 
ichneumons, as well as several species of Diptera and Coleoptera. ‘The 
dahlias were mostly single, but a few double ones were also to be found. 
‘The bright yellow single flowers appeared to be the most attractive—that 
is, in taking up my position on the steep bank I preferred to plant myself 
in a mass of yellow flowers to any other colour. I never observed that any 
bee, wasp, or other insect was injured in any way by visiting these flowers. 
I never found a dead one in or under the dahlias, and certainly, from the 
activity required to capture them, I never came across any bee or wasp 
suffering from ‘ narcotic action’ or ‘ seized with a sort of torpor.’ Under one 
fine bush of the yellow single flower I found the nests of a large species 
of humble-bee, and spent many hours in watching the workers fly in aud out 
and to and from, the dahlia flowers, covered with the yellow pollen, and they 
never seemed any the worse for their excesses; indeed they were un- 
commonly lively, and on one occasion, when I had been capturing too many 
of their fine females, the workers fairly drove me off the ground by their 
most persistent attacks.” 
The Secretary then read a paper by Mr. Peter Cameron entitled 
“Notes on the Coloration and Development of Insects.” Professor 
Westwood communicated two papers:—*On two Gynandromorphous 
specimens of Cirrochroa Aoris, Dbl., an Indian Species of Nymphalideous 
Butterflies,” and “ On Cetonia Aurata and Protactia Bensoni.” Specimens 
and drawings were exhibited in illustration of the last paper, showing the 
specific distinctness of the insects in question. 
* Mr Rothney must be mistaken in speaking of tie “ wild dahlia” in India, as 
this plant is Mexican, and not Indian, as pointed out by several Members on 
hearing the above commnnication.—Ep, 
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