No. 527] COLOR SENSE OF THE HONEY-BEE 683 



was moved six inches to the right. There was a liberal 

 supply of honey on the center of both slides. 



In a few minutes there were seven bees on the red slide 

 and two on the colorless. The bees were now driven 

 away, the slides transposed, and the distance apart in- 

 creased to sixteen inches. Six bees and a fly (Eristalis 

 tenax) soon came to the red slide, but only one bee came 

 to the colorless. The number of bees on the red slide con- 

 tinued to increase until there were about eight, 9 and it 

 was difficult for some of them to reach the honey. In the 

 meantime there were only two bees on the colorless slide. 



The bees were again driven away and the slides trans- 

 posed, the distance apart remaining sixteen inches. At 

 the end of a few moments there were eight bees on the 

 red glass, and one bee on the colorless. The slides were 

 transposed, and once more eight bees and the syrphid fly 

 came to the red, and only one bee to the colorless. 



The bees were driven away, and the slides transposed. 

 Very quickly five bees selected the red, and two bees and 

 the syrphid fly the colorless. Later there were eleven 

 bees on the red, and only two on the colorless. The bees on 

 the red slide were so crowded that this may have had some 

 influence in sending two of them to the' colorless. The 

 honey on the latter slide was amber-colored and could be 

 seen at a distance of twelve feet, while at times its odor 

 must have been stronger than that upon the red slide, 

 since it was removed much more slowly. 



It may be objected that the very marked preference 

 shown by the bees for the red slide was the result of their 

 having been accustomed to visit it first. If one bee had 

 been employed, this might be admitted, but in the case of 

 so many bees, it is improbable, since they would naturally 

 avoid continually crowding and interfering with each 

 other. If, however, the objection is well founded, then 

 they should continue to give the preference to the red 



