NEWLY-DISCOVERKD HABIT IN THE BLACKCAP WARBLER. 7 



piece at the base of each corolla-tube in turn as it ascended the 

 stem. I could not ascertain whether this was done for the 

 purpose of sucking the nectar, of which the corolla was full, but 

 it seems probable that this was the case. The act was very 

 quickly performed, if there was any suction, as only two or three 

 seconds were spent at each flower. As to the question of these 

 openings being made for the purpose of attracting insects, there 

 were so few of these about, owing to the cold, that it was im- 

 possible to arrive at any definite conclusion. There was, however, 



Fig. 3. — Antholyza cethiojjica, showing punctures made by 

 the Garden Warbler, Sylvia hortensis. 



no doubt that, with one insect at least, they had this result. The 

 hive-bees, which up to the time of the appearance of the birds 

 had frequented these flowers in great numbers, but invariably 

 entering at the mouth of the corolla, and never attempting to 

 obtain the nectar along the tube, or showing the least tendency 

 towards making an opening there, now took their way direct to 

 the openings made by the birds, seldom entering the corolla at all- 

 I was told that an opinion had been expressed by an eminent 

 naturalist that these openings were made by mason-bees. Some 

 fine punctures on the corolla-tube seem to give an air of prob- 



