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SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 65 



average for the 100 bees for two counts, 26.5 per cent were observed 

 eating pure honey and 17 per cent eating honey containing lemon 

 juice, making a total of 43.5 per cent eating at any one count. 



The preceding was repeated by using three drops of acetic acid 

 (99.5 per cent) in each feeder containing four grams of honey. The 

 acid made the honey quite sour and changed its odor slightly. As 

 an average for the 100 bees for two counts, 28 per cent were seen 

 eating pure honey and 5.5 per cent eating honey containing acetic 

 acid, making 33.5 per cent eating at any one count. 



Hydrochloric acid (37 per cent) was used in the same manner. It 

 slightly changed the odor of the honey and gave it a sharp, sour taste. 

 As an average for the 100 bees for two counts, 50 per cent were ob- 

 served eating pure honey at each count, but none ate the honey con- 

 taining acid. 



Sulphuric acid (95 per cent) was next used in the same manner. 

 This acid gave the honey a less sharp, sour taste than did hydro- 

 chloric acid. As an average for the 100 bees for two counts, 28.5 

 per cent were seen eating pure honey at each count, while none ate the 

 honey containing acid. 



Nitric acid (68 per cent) was employed in the same way. This acid 

 gave the honey a sour taste, although not sharp. As an average for 

 the 100 bees for two counts, 33.5 per cent were observed eating pure 

 honey at each count, while none ate the honey containing acid. 



The following is a tabulated summary of the preceding results ob- 

 tained by feeding bees foods containing sour substances. The 

 figures in the third to eighth columns represent the average per cent 

 or number of bees eating a particular food at any one count. 



TABLE V 

 Experiments in Feeding Bees Foods Containing Sour Substances 



