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THE HUMBLE-BEE IN NEW ZEALAND. 25 



Solane^e. 



Solatium jasminoides. According to an Oamaru correspon- 

 dent this plant is a great favourite. 



Petunia. One correspondent has observed them on these 

 flowers. 



SCROPHULARINE.E. 



Linaria. Two cultivated species, one with white and purj}le 

 flowers, the other (L. tristis) with yellow and crimson 

 flowers, are frequently visited by the bees in the normal 

 manner. 



Antirrhinum (Frogsmouth or Snapdragon.) These flowers, 

 like those of Linaria, are only fertilised by humble-bees, and 

 are much visited by them. According to Mr. Page of 

 Christchurch, the bees puncture the corollas, and this is 

 particularly the case as the season advances. Presumably 

 therefore it is the small bees which learn this habit only, 

 the larger ones being both strong enough to open the 

 corolla and having probosces long enough to reach the 

 nectar. 



Pentstemon. These flowers are regularly visited. 

 Digitalis purpurea. The Foxglove is a great favourite with 

 humble-bees. I find however the flowers are perfectly self- 

 fertile, as it blooms all the year round with us and sets seed 

 in all weathers ; this too, happened long before humble-bees 

 were introduced. 



Veronica. I have never seen the bees on any of the native 

 species of this genus (except V. ellipitica, noted on p. 19), 

 but on the purple, and especially the crimson hybrids found 

 in many gardens they are to be seen in abundance. While 

 neglecting white flowers, the bees seem to be particularly 

 attracted to red and blue flowers. 



BlGNONIACE^E. 



Eccremocarpus scaber. According to a Christchurch corres- 

 pondent, these flowers are always punctured by the bees for 

 their nectar. 

 Verbenaceje. 



Ngaio (Myoporum latum) is visited by the bees, according to 

 Mr. Fleming of Palmerston S. 



Labiatve. 



Rosemary {Rosmarinus) is eagerly sought after by the bees. 

 Salvia Grahami. According to the Editor of the "New 

 Zealand Country Journal," the bees bite the flowers of this 

 plant a little above the calyx. I find them common on a 

 a species of Stachys. 



Many flowers of this order are regularly visited in Europe 

 by humble-bees, e.g. Self-heal (Prunella vulgaris) and Mar- 

 joram. I have no record of their being so visited here. 



Proteace^e. 



Hakea sp. I have obseived the btes in great numbers on 

 the flowers of a pink species. 



