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SHORT NOTES.

On the Fertilization of the Primrose (Primula vulgaris, Huds.). — In an article in the 'Journal of the Linnean Society' (vol. x. Botany, pp. 437-454), "On the Specific Difference between Primula veris, Br. FL, P. vulgaris, Br. Fl., and P. elatior, Jacq.," etc., the distinguished author, Mr. Darwin, when treating of the less obvious differences between the Cowslip and the Primrose, observes, "The Cowslip is habitually visited during the day by humble bees (viz. Bombus muscorum and hortorum, and perhaps by other species), and at night by moths, as I have seen with the Cucullia. The Primrose is never visited (and I speak after many years' observation) by the larger humble bees, and only rarely by smaller kinds; hence its fertilization depends almost exclusively on moths." The conclusion the writer arrives at, that the fertilization of the Primrose depends almost exclusively on moths, is, I venture to think, far from correct; indeed, observations made in the neighbourhood of Plymouth prove it to be so, — so far, at least, as that locality is concerned. I give the following facts in support of this assertion: — We have here a bee (Anthophora acervorum) that often visits the Primrose; and only during the past week I have seen several of these insects on its flowers, and on Thursday last (April 7th) caught two in the act of gathering from them. There is also a very small bee (Andrena Gwynana) that seems to get a vast quantity of pollen from Primroses, for I have seen it on those flowers with the posterior tibiae loaded with golden masses. The brimstone butterfly (Gonepteryx Rhamni) also visits them, as I have witnessed this spring. We have another insect that seems to obtain most of its food from Primroses at this season of the year, visiting them perhaps more frequently than either of the bees or the butterfly; it is a dipterous one (Bombylius medius). Repeatedly have I watched it inserting its long proboscis into the tube of the corolla, much in the manner of the gayer humming-bird hawk-moth (Macroglossa stellatarum) when gathering from a Honeysuckle-bush or a bed of Verbenas. On the 7th of this month I saw three of these insects hovering over Primroses, and caught one of them as it was probing a flower. I am pleased to find Mr. Shuckard, in his 'British Bees,' to some extent supporting my opinion that the fertilization of the Primrose does not depend almost exclusively on moths, for he says, when treating of

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British bees in general, "Amongst the early-blooming flowers most in request with the bees, and which therefore seem to be great favourites, we find the Chickweed, the Primrose, and the catkins of the Sallow." (Brit. Bees, p. 14.)

— T. K. Archer Briggs.