STORING POLLEN IN THE HIVE. 29 



These analyses show conclusively that a very large amount of 

 sugar has been added to the pollen by the time it reaches the cor- 

 biculse. Calculated on a dry basis just about twice as much sugar is 

 present in the basket pollen as in that from the corn plant. Not only 

 is this so, but the additional fact is disclosed that over three times as 

 much reducing sugar is present in the corbicular pollen as sucrose. 

 This latter result indicates that honey (largely a reducing sugar) 

 rather than nectar (containing more sucrose) is the chief sugar in- 

 gredient of the corbicular pollen. The additional amount of sugar 

 (here again a reducing sugar) in the stored pollen of the hive is 

 what might be expected, since it is supposed that the workers add 

 honey and possibly other ingredients to the pollen within the 

 storage cells. 



The total solid percentages, corn 53.47, corbicula 66.94, stored 

 pollen 79.66, also show that the fluid substance which is added is one 

 highly charged with solids, a ;;ondition which honey amply fulfills. 



In the descriptions which have been cited of the pollen-gathering 

 process in which the mouth is supposed to supply the requisite fluid 

 three substances are mentioned: Nectar, honey, and saliva. The 

 analyses herein given indicate that reducing sugar is mingled with 

 the pollen, and in the case of corn it is indicated that honey is used 

 in greater abundance. Without doubt a certain amount of saliva 

 also finds its way to the pollen, but the proportion of this substance 

 has not been determined. This salivary fluid may have adhesive 

 qualities, but this is scarcely necessary, since honey alone is amply 

 sufficient for this purpose. 



It appears probable that the fluid which a bee adds to the pollen 

 which it is collecting varies somewhat in amount, since the pollen of 

 different plants differs considerably in moisture content and that of 

 the same plant will differ in this respect at different times. Pollen 

 collected in the early morning before the dew has left the plant is 

 much more moist than that found upon the same plant later in the 

 day, and the grains, if taken when moist, have a natural tendency to 

 become aggregated and form small masses. Moreover, this may ex- 

 plain the fact that bees make their pollen-collecting trips during the 

 morning hours, rather than in the afternoon, although some may be 

 seen upon the flowers throughout the whole day. 



STORIITG POLLEN IN THE HIVE. 



When the bee has fully loaded its baskets and before it returns to 

 the hive it often spends a little time upon the plant from which it 

 has been collecting, occupied with the task of cleaning scattered 

 grains of pollen from its body and of patting down securely the loads 

 which it has obtained. Upon its return to the hive it hurries within 

 and seeks for a suitable place in which to deposit the pollen. Some 



