Bees and Flowers

Abstract

As there is a prevailing idea that bees prefer red and blue to other colours, the following observations on their habits may be of interest:—The common hive bees were very busy among the flowers in the garden this morning. Those most frequented were yellow crocus, snowdrop, and Christmas rose. Next in order, winter aconite, yellow jessamine, and blue scilla. On sweet blue violets and on a dwarf erica, which is now flowering, I could see none. Hitherto my observations led me to suppose they never visited the blue scilla for honey, as I had never seen them settle down to it in a business-like manner, but simply flit over it and go to something else.