HABITS OF HUMBLE BEES. 103 



of cold weather all, except the queens/ of which there are 

 several in each nest, die. 



The efforts of my friend Mr. Rockwoocl to procure 

 nests for me during the winter have as yet been unsuc- 

 cessful, those which he had marked for removal having 

 been destroyed by mice. 



It is desirable to ascertain whether the queens remain 

 torpid during cold weather and what use is made of the 

 pollen and honey stored during the last of summer and 

 in the fall, which perhaps is food for the queens during 

 the mild weather in spring before plants are in blossom. 



But little wax is made by the Humble Bees, as it is only 

 used for covering the cocoons of the larva?, for thinly 

 lining the nest on the inside, strengthening the old cells 

 which are used for honey pots, and occasionally covering 

 these pots, and propping up the old cells. 



During some }^ears Humble Bees are very numerous. 

 This is generally the case when a dry and early spring is 

 followed by a summer producing a good crop of clover. 

 After such a season, if the following spring be favorable, 

 nests are very abundant. 



Though very similar to those made by Reaumer, over a 

 hundred years ago, it will be noticed that my observations 

 differ, in several particulars, from those made by some 

 European naturalists who have written on the Bombi. 



Some observers have stated that the eggs of the 

 Humble Bee are deposited in cells, partly filled with 

 pollen, which are enlarged by the workers as the young 

 increase in size, and that the old bees, cutting holes in the 

 cells, feed the young until they are fully developed when 

 they relieve them from their prisons. This is quite con- 

 trary to the results of my observations in New England. 



At present I cannot believe that the peculiarity of food, 

 or the structure of the cells, produces a difference of de- 

 velopement in Humble Bees, for the larvae, as has been 

 previously stated, were seen to make their own cells from 

 the pollen paste, while the old bees were quite indiscrim- 

 inate in selecting the plants from which they procured 

 both pollen and honey. 



Is it not more natural to believe, as has been suggested 

 to me by Professor Wyman, that the difference in the de- 



