THE HUMBLE-BEE IN NEW ZEALAND. I J 



interesting example given me by Mr. Wm. Martin, of Fairfield, near 

 Dunedin, who informs me that as far back as 1858 he obtained a 

 large quantity of very fine seed off a small patch of red clover which 

 he had under cultivation. 



I have never myself observed our introduced humble-bee biting 

 the tubes of red clover, nor have enquiries to observers throughout 

 Canterbury and Otago elicited any information, beyond the fact that 

 the flowers always seem to be visited in a legitimate manner. And it 

 is a further interesting fact, that though at first sight the wrong 

 species of insect appears to have been introduced, yet the result 

 sought to be attained by its introduction has been secured. Yet it 

 would not have been at all remarkable, if the experiment had resulted 

 in failure as far at least as red clover is concerned, were it not that 

 under altered conditions, insects, like all other organisms, appear to 

 have marvellous powers of adaptation. 



In March, 1885, the Otago Acclimatisation Society liberated 93 

 females (queens) of Bombus terrestris in the neighbourhood of Christ- 

 church. They appear to have established themselves at once and 

 increased rapidly. In January, 1886, two were seen by Mr. J. D. 

 Enys at Castle Hill on the West Coast road, and early in 1887 they 

 were reported from Kaikoura in the North, and Timaru in the South, 

 while by the autumn of the same year they had become established 

 in the Oamaru district. Towards the very end of the same year they 

 had spread up the Waitaki basin, through the Lindis pass and were 

 ^observed on the Hawea flats. In Dunedin they appeared quite 

 suddenly in the second week of February, 1888, and were almost 

 simultaneously reported from Waihola, 30 miles south-west. In 

 November,- 1889, they were first recorded from the head of Lake 

 Wakatipu, and in the beginning of 1890 were observed in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Invercargill. I have no accurate record of their spread 

 in the North Island. It may be considered certain that Cook's Strait 

 would have proved an insurmountable natural barrier, but specimens 

 have been repeatedly liberated within the last two or three years in 

 the North Island. It seems doubtful, according to Mr. G. V. Hudson, 

 whether they have yet become established. I have, however, records 

 of their occurrence, both from Auckland and Wellington, and would 

 be glad to have further information on this point. 



Professor Hutton informs me that occasionally he has seen 

 queen bees which were quite black, that is without .the white and 

 orange bands so characteristic of Bombus terrestris. It will be 

 interesting to leaim whether this variety has been observed elsewhere 

 than in Christchurch. 



One of the most interesting results of the introduction of foreign 

 species of plants or animals into a new country, is that it becomes 

 possible to watch and place upon record every change which the 

 organism undergoes. As soon as humble-bees appeared in this 

 neighbourhood, I resolved to devote a good deal of attention to them, 

 and have already observed several details concerniug their life-history, 

 which show, it seems to me, that they may be expected to undergo 

 considerable change in their habits, and may prove in time to be a 

 not un-mixed blessing. 



