LEGUMINOSAE 327 



Hermann Miiller records the following. — 



A. Hymenoptera. Apidae: i. Andrena convexiuscula A'. 5, po-cltg. ; 2. A. 

 labialis K. J, vainly trying to suck ; 3. Apis mellifica L. 5, stealing nectar as above, 

 and po-cltg.; 4. Bombus confusus Schenck 5, freq., skg. ; 5. B. hortorum L. 5, do.; 

 6. B. lapidariusZ. 5, do.; 7. B. muscorum Z". 5, do.; 8. B. sylvarum L. 5, do.; 9. B. 

 terrester Z. 5, perforating ; 10. Osmia rufa Z. 5, skg. B. Coleoptera. Malacoder- 

 mata : 11. Malachius bipustulatus Z., po-dvg. 



The following were observed by the authorities and at the places stated. — 



Alfken (Bremen), the bees, i. Bombus ruderatus Z'. 5 ; 2. B. terrester Z. 5, skg. 

 illegitimately : Verhoeff (Norderney and Baltrum), the bees i . Bombus lapidarius 

 Z. 5, skg.; 2. B. cognatus S/ep/i. (=B. muscorum Z'.), a 5, do.: Alfken (A.) and 

 Leege (L.) (Juist), i. the Syrphid Syrphus pyrastri Z., very freq., and the bees 

 2. Bombus hortorum Z. (A., L.) ; 3. B. muscorum Z". (L.) ; 4. B. terrester Z. (L.); 

 H. de Vries (Netherlands), a bee, i. Apis mellifica Z. 5, very freq., and a humble-bee, 

 2. Bombus agrorum F. 5 (Ned. Kruidk. Arch., Nijmegen, 2. ser., 2. deel, 1875). 



770. V. hirsuta S. F. Gray (=Ervum hirsutum Z.). (Herm. Miiller, ' Weit. 

 Beob.,' II, pp. 260-2; MacLeod, Bot. Jaarb. Dodonaea, Ghent, vi, 1894, p. 361; 

 Knuth, 'Bl. u. Insekt. a. d. nordfr. Ins.,' pp. 62-3.) — The small bluish-white flowers 

 of this species, though only 4 mm. long, secrete nectar very abundantly. Hermann 

 Mailer describes their mechanism as particularly interesting on account of its great 

 simplicity. There are only 6-12 hairs on the style, instead of a brush. The 

 stamens closely surround and partly project beyond the stigma, that therefore gets 

 covered with pollen when the anthers dehisce, which they do in the bud. The 

 carina is open above throughout its whole length, so that the stigma and anthers pro- 

 trude when it is depressed. When the pressure is removed, the depressed parts return 

 to their original position. This is brought about by the elasticity of the alae and 

 carina, aided by the broad vexillum that ensheaths them ; also by the action of 

 the calyx, which holds together the bases of all the petals. Each ala is united 

 with the carina only in one place, where there is an ill-marked fold and the epidermal 

 cells slightly interlock. 



Automatic self-pollination regularly takes place, and Hermann Miiller says that 

 it is thoroughly effective. Insect visitors effect cross- and self-pollination with equal 

 ease, and, despite the small size of the flowers, their number is considerable. This 

 is obviously due to the relatively great abundance of nectar. While in other species 

 the secretion remains concealed between the base of the pistil and the filaments, 

 it here flows out through the nectar-passage on either side the base of the free 

 filament, collecting to form a large drop. This extends beneath the vexillum 

 beyond the level of the calyx, and hence can be seen from the outside. 



Visitors. — These are small bees and Lepidoptera. I saw the honey-bee in 

 the island of Fohr, and Herm. Miiller noticed it in Westphalia. Herm. Muller 

 (H. M.) and Buddeberg (Budd.) also observed the following. — 



A. Hymenoptera. (a) Apidae: i. Andrena convexiuscula K. S, skg. (H. M.); 

 2. Halictus flavipes K. 5, do. (Budd.). (F) Sphegidae : 3. Ammophila sabulosa Z. S, 

 making casual attempts at skg. (H. M.). B. Lepidoptera. Rhopalocera : 4. Coe- 

 nonympha pamphilus Z., skg. (H. M.); 5. Lycaena aegon W. V., do. (H. M.). 



H. de Vries saw a bee. Apis mellifica Z. 5, in the Netherlands (Ned. Kruidk. 

 Arch., Nijmegen, 2. ser., 2. deel, 1875). 



