No. 539] 



THE BEHAVIOR OF BEES 



675 



At (b) a second cotton bud due to open the next morn- 

 ing had its petals partly pulled open. 



At (c) a normal cotton blossom growing in situ as a 

 control. 



Data for Experiment No. 29 





s 























1 



jl 



1 



i 

 1 



I 



& 



j 



I 

 I 



1 



J 



1 



i 



1 

 1 



1 



! ! 



i 

 1 



& 



i 



! 

 1 

 i 



I 



I 

 1 



i 



ji 





15 













o 



14 













In this experiment it was intended to observe the 

 behavior of bees toward immature buds at (a) and (b) 

 in comparison with fully expanded, mature blossoms. 

 It was assumed that the former, owing to their imma- 

 turity, would perhaps prove less attractive to bees 

 through the sense of smell than the fully matured 

 blossoms. Although not definitely proved, it is reason- 

 able to suppose that the processes of active nectar secre- 

 tion simultaneously attend the unfolding of the petals 

 and the shedding of the pollen. It would then follow that 

 the odor of the unopened buds at (a) and (b) would 

 prove less alluring than the blossom at (c). 



The yellow petals of the blossom at (a) have served 

 to invite frequent inspection, although at (b) this is not 

 as evident. This difference may depend upon the fact 

 that the bud at {b) was much less conspicuous, since the 

 petals have been only slightly pulled open. "Whatever 

 the true explanation, the mature, fully unfolded blossom 

 which serves as a control at (c) has received many more 

 inspections, nearly 60 per cent, of which are actual 

 entrances. 



Experiment No. 30. — August 2. Period of observation 

 one hour, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Two blossoms were 

 arranged in the same row in equally conspicuous posi- 

 tions. 



At (a) a very clean, thin 5x7 glass plate was sup- 



