1 8 8 2 .] Entomology. 



budding, differing from the budding of a zoophyte, ch 

 fact that it takes place upon an internal instead of upon ; 

 surface.— W. N. L. 



Are Honey-bees Carnivorous?— In order to eli 

 facts hearing on this subject we publis! 

 ceived long since from Dr. Muller; and 



_ My Dear Sir:— My brother Fritz Muller replies to my ques- 



observed by him as carnivorous a th tin : I Zing notes: "1876 

 November 23, Apis mellifica an bepissten Steilen in trockenem 



"November 24. An frischem Meische ausser Wespen und 

 Fliegcn Zahlreiche Bienen : Apis (emzein), Mclipona vaiians, 

 Tngona pingnicosa und besonders haufig eine (vielleicht zum 



"November 25. An Fleisch auch Maipona ceynpie und 

 Gnrupur 



Regarding the species of Melipona and Trigona here men- 

 tioned, I have to add that they are as yet undescribed, and that 

 the names used by my brother are provisional ones. 



Yours very faithfully, Dr. H. Muller. 



The Honey-bee Tasting of Flesh. — In regard to the alleged 

 case of the honey-bee attacking and killing moths, published in 

 the Naturalist, Vol. xiv., p. 363, I may say that I have seen 

 at least one, if not several bees ( lp s ',) . .ting on a piece 



of meat in a butcher's shop in Providence, R. I., and lapping with 

 its mouth-parts the fresh meat, apparently feeding upon the juice 

 of the beef. This happened in the summer, and within six or 

 seven years.— Norwan N. Mason. 



The " Overflow Bugs " in California. 1 — The following expe- 

 rience from one of my correspondents, Mrs. A. E. Bush, of San 

 Jose, California, is, I think, well worth publishing, as showing 

 how ground-beetles may be so numerous as to become a nuisance 

 to man, the Caral>id;e generally being indirectly beneficial to him 

 by devouring plant- feeding species. The insect popularly de- 

 nominated " Overflow Bug" in California is the Platvnus macu- 

 Ucollis Dej. 



Part, and in the toot-hills of the'Sierra Nevada. It is hot and dry 

 there.no trees and many rocks where we were; thermometer 

 ranging from 96 to 108 for about three months. In June and 

 July, when hottest and dryest, the " overflow-bugs " filled the air 

 etween sunset and dark ; you could not with safety open your 



