234 BEES ON DERRIS FLOWERS. 



effect of the forcing of these apart is injury to the claws of the 

 petals which serve as springs, so that after visits the) 7 are suffused 

 with the black pigment in consequence of rupture of the epidermal 

 layer. The other effect is due to the feet and head of the- visitors 

 which they use in their effort to prise the flower open. Invariably 

 as a consequence of this, two dark spots develop at the base of the 

 standard one on either side near the brow over the way to the honey. 

 It is to be noted that this injury is invariable. And often these two 

 areas can be seen to be made up of three or four confluent injuries, 

 each resulting in a complete perforation of the limb. Correspond- 

 ing with them may be seen perforations of the wings, which are 

 less commonly confluent from being more dispersed. But of the 

 wings still there is invariably damage about i., and also especially 

 at the corner j. These places are close to the folds whereby the 

 wings and keel are interlocked, but beyond them. Presumedly they 

 are at the points where the visitors get the best purchase. 



In other parts of the standard and the wings there is but in- 

 constant and slight damage done : and the keel which has the func- 

 tion of protecting the pollen rarely is marked except in its claws 

 and sometimes at the very tip. 



In about 5% of the falling flowers injury to the standard had 

 occurred near b., and in less than 5% at c. In a greater percentage 

 some injury occurred right at the tip. The wings are rarely 

 damaged at k. 



The evidence is very clear that every flower gets repeatedly 

 visited. But only a small percentage set seed as over 90% fall 

 entire. The remainder however are sufficient to supply what may 

 be regarded as quite an abundant seed-crop. 



