BOMBUS. 
315 
other cases they bring it home collected in little masses 
upon the corbiculum, or basket, of the posterior shanks. 
They may be often caught thus laden, and I once cap¬ 
tured a large female of B. terrestris , with the shanks and 
plantae of both intermediate and posterior legs covered 
with masses of thick clay, required doubtless at home 
for some domestic repairs. The instinct of these bees 
teaches them that where the tube of the flower is too 
narrow for the introduction of their body, and too long; 
for even their long proboscis to reach the nectarium at 
the bottom, they may get at the honey by piercing a 
hole near that organ, which they know where to find, 
and thus they readily get at the treasure that they 
seek, lapping it through the aperture and carrying it 
off. If, in their collecting-excursions, they are inter¬ 
cepted by heavy rains, or loiter far away too long until 
the twilight closes, they will pass the night away from 
home, and return laden with their gatherings as soon as 
the warmth of the sun reanimates them to activity : 
thus they will often sleep in flowers, and a nest therefore 
taken at night is not always a sure indication in those 
found within it, of its complete population. In their 
amours, the autumnal females evince considerable co¬ 
quetry to attract their partners: they place themselves 
upon some branch in the most fervid sunshine, and here 
they practise their cajoleries in the vibrations of their 
wings, and allure them by their attractive postures. 
The males are simultaneously abroad, and soon perceive 
them. The seduction is complete, and they pounce 
down upon them with impetuosity, but their brief in¬ 
dulgence terminates in death, for with his abating vigour 
the female repulses him, and he falls to the ground 
never to take wing again. Amongst their insect enemies 
