ON INSECTS THAT FKEQUENT THE PRIMfiOBE. 189 
much in the manner of the gayer Humming-bird Hawk Moth 
when gathering from a honeysuckle bush or a bed of verbenas." 
Farther observations, carried on in the Spring of last year, after 
the article just quoted from was written, revealed the fact that a 
humble bee, of moderate size and very dark colour, of which I have 
not as yet ascertained the name, is, in addition to the insects 
already named, partial to gathering from Primrose flowers; and 
respecting it and other matters connected with my subject I extract 
the following particulars from " note-books : " — 
April 20th, 1870. — I saw five of the dark humble bees gather- 
ing from Primroses, and one of Andrejia Gwynanna ; the latter had 
large masses of pollen on its thighs. 
April 23rd. — I noticed six of the same dark humble bee on 
Primroses, which flower is certainly a favourite with it. I watched 
some from plant to plant, and also saw two specimens of the 
Andrena busy on them, apparently collecting pollen. I saw a 
Bomhylius visit a great many, probing their tubes most delicately, 
When doing this, I noticed that it reste J its fore feet on the corolla, 
but kept the wings vibrating. 
April 30th. — I saw three of the humble bees gathering from 
Primroses. On one I noticed pollen by the side of the proboscis. 
These bees seem to frequent the Primrose more than any other 
flower. 
May 9th. — I watched one of the dark humble bees gathering 
from Primroses, which it visited exclusively: it carried large 
masses of pollen. 
April 4th, 1871. — I noticed another of these bees gathering 
from flowers of both Primula vulgaris and Viola Riviniana. On the 
same day my brother saw numbers of Antliophora acervorum on 
Primroses about Trehan, near Trematon, and also one of the dark 
sort. 
April 15th. — I caught a very large humble bee between 
Plymbridge and Plympton, as it was gathering from Primroses. 
On examining it I found that it had four pollen masses of an 
Orchis attached to its face — a proof that it had not visited one 
species only. They were doubtless those of Orchis mascula, the 
only plant of the order at all common about Plymouth likely to be 
open so early in the year. I noticed one of the dark bees gathering, 
apparently indifl'erently, from Primroses and the flowers of Fiola 
Riviniana. 
z 
