1892.] NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 171 



being freely dusted with foreign pollen by these industrious 

 creatures. 



On the other hand the stigma is much below the anthers at the 

 time the flower expands in B. prcecox. The pollen is discharged 

 before the flower opens, and when the stigma is brought up through 

 the stamens by the elongation of the ovarium, it is found to be 

 dusted by its own pollen. In this species the flower is surely a self- 

 fertilizer. 



It certainly must be interesting to the biologist to note two 

 species so closely related, possessing such diametrically opposite con- 

 ditions as regards the fertilization of their flowers ; and the teleologist 

 cannot fail to be equally interested, as the facts have an intimate 

 bearing on the questions he has to discuss. To my mind the chief 

 value of the facts related lies in the additional proof they afford 

 that dichogamy, to a great extent, is dependent on the varying con- 

 ditions that excite advanced growth in stamens or pistils respectively. 



It may be added in connection with the subject of the free visit of 

 honey bees to these flowers, that the flowers have no odor percep- 

 tible to our senses. 



