No. 542] 



COLOR SENSE OF THE HONEY-BEE 



103 



behavior of the bees, still it seemed desirable to test the 

 matter. For this purpose the following experiment, clos- 

 ing the series of 1910, was performed on September 23. 

 A blue slide was prepared as described and the edges 

 were sealed with several applications of gold size, the 

 odor of which is no doubt unpleasant to bees. The blue 

 slide, a dandelion leaf, and the base of the feeder formed 

 the angles of an equilateral triangle, each side being 

 three feet in length. As the weather was becoming 

 colder the bees were not flying freely. An ample supply 

 of honey was put on the blue slide and the leaf, which 

 were laid on the grass of the lawn at 9 p.m. At 9 :20 the 

 honey on the feeder was entirely consumed. Presently 

 a bee hovered over the blue slide, but did not alight. 

 Another bee hovered over the blue slide for a Long time 

 and finally alighted. A second, third and fourth visit was 

 made by bees at intervals'. At 9:40 I discontinued the 

 experiment. No attention bad been paid to the honey on 

 the leaf, though in the sunlight it could be seen for a long 

 distance. The hesitation of the bees at first may have 

 been caused by the repellent odor of the gold size. Bee- 

 keepers never paint their hives inside, as the scent of 

 paint is believed to be disliked by bees. The blue slide 

 and the leaf were left in position and when twenty minutes 

 later I examined them again all of the honey had been 

 removed from the slide, but that on the leaf appeared to 

 be untouched. Evidently the only factors which had in- 

 fluenced the bees in the previous experiments were the 

 honey and the color. 



Of the series of experiments performed in 1911 only 

 three will be described. A few observations were thought 

 desirable in which one or two bees were employed instea 

 of a larger number, in order that the behavior of an indi- 

 vidual bee might be followed when given the choice be- 

 tween a conspicuous and an inconspicuous object. A few 

 bees were accustomed to visit a glass slide for honey. 

 While they were absent at the hive, the slide was re- 

 moved and a large rhubarb leaf was laid in its place. 



