HARDWICKKS SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



243 



insect-selection tlieory can be accepted in its entirety. 

 Without joining in this discussion otherwise than to 

 relate a few observations made here in the West, I 

 would yet call attention to the papers read by Mr. 

 P. Geddes at the Linnean Society, on April 21st and 

 November 17th, 1887. In these papers Mr. Geddes 

 points out that certain characteristics of the in- 

 florescence cannot be due to natural selection, and 

 urges that flowers are due to a katabolic change in 

 vegetation, the reproductive function subordinating 

 the vegetative one — " the reds and yellows of 

 flowers (as of spring and autumn foliage) being 

 simply the imperfect vegetation of immaturity, re- 

 production, and decline." He does not deny that 

 insect-selection may have had its influence, but re- 

 gards it as at best of secondary importance. 



This summer, while wandering in the mountains 

 of Western Custer County, Colorado, I have made 

 the following observations, which, although scanty, 

 may have some slight bearing upon the matter. 



1. The more showy and numerous flowers are 

 yellow, and these attract large numbers of insects. 



2. I incline to the opinion that insects cannot 

 distinguish between red and yellow. This is fully 

 discussed in connection with a spider of the genus 

 Misumena in "Canad. Entom.," Sept. 1888, p. 176. 



3. Vanessa cardui is very abundant, and seems 

 decidedly to prefer yellow flowers, especially those 

 of Hymenopappus filifolius. 



4. 12,000 feet altitude. Brenthis species at flowers 

 of Achillea millefolium. 



5. Over 12,000 feet altitude on the bare ground 

 above timber line, the extraordinary nod-ding Cnictts 

 eriocephahis is conspicuous . Its bright chrome-yellow 

 flowers are frequented by Bombiis. 



6. 10,000 feet altitude. Bombus visiting the pale 

 yellowish flowers of Caucus Parryi and the pink 

 flowers of Epilobiuin angustifoliitm. 



7. Colias Alexandra seems fond of yellow flowers, 

 and also visits Epilobium angitstifoliinn. 



8. Bombus visits the flowers of Calochortus Gunni- 

 soni and Sidalcca Candida, both white and regular. 



9. Chrysophanus visits flowers of Galium boreale. 



10. Gnophcela vermiculata is frequent on the yellow 

 flowers of Gymnolomia multijlora and Senecio. 



1 1. Argynnis and Bombus visit pink Cnicus flowers. 



12. The brilliant yellow flowers of Rudbcckia 

 lacitiiaia attract many insects; Vanessa atalanta, 

 Satyrus Charon, Argyjinis, Grapta, Bombus, and 

 many other lepidoptera, hymenoptera, &c. 



13. Limenitis Weidevieyerii visits the flowers of 

 Achillea tnillefolium and Epilobium angustifolium. 



14. Neophasia tnenapia visits Setiecio flowers. 



15. Bombus visits the blue and specialised flowers 

 of Aconitum Columbianum and Delphitiium. 



16. A bee was observed visiting the whitish flowers 

 of Geraniui7i Richardsoni, and passing by the blue 

 flowers of Aconitum Columbianum. 



These notes are collected impartially, without any 



idea of favouring one or the other view. Most of 

 them do not bear upon the immediate question of 

 bees and blue flowers, but they seem to show that 

 here insects have no preference for blue, and even 

 bees are quite content with white. 



T. D. A. COCKERELL. 

 West Cliff, Colorado. 



THE RUDIMENTARY INTELLIGENCE OF 

 THE INFUSORIA. 



By A. C. Deane, 



ALTHOUGH the ever-interesting " inhabitants 

 of a drop of water" have been of late years 

 the subject of prolonged and careful study, great un- 

 certainty still exists, not only with regard to the- 

 manner in which their various vital functions are 

 performed, but even as to their true relative place in. 

 the scale of creation. There are many forms which 

 are still bandied about between the animal and 

 vegetable kingdoms ; there are others which have 

 been permanently transferred from the one to the 

 other. Theories are often started as to whether some 

 forms, which have hitherto been classified as different 

 species or even genera, are not in reality immature 

 forms of other well-known individuals. 



So much with reference to their bodily structure ; 

 with reference to their comparative intelligence there 

 has been but little difference of opinion. It seems to 

 have been universally agreed by physiologists that 

 these minute species of protoplasm, as they have the 

 lowest bodily structure, have also the lowest mental 

 development. The complete decentralisation of the 

 organs of sense must, they urge, result in a corre- 

 sponding smallness of intelligence ; the intelligence 

 must be minute since the physical structure of the 

 creature is what it is. 



Now, as a theory, this is all-sufficient ; but if by 

 long observation we have convinced ourselves of the 

 fact that these forms possess a far higher degree of 

 intelligence than that attributed to them by this 

 theory, what are we to do ? Are we to endeavour to 

 fit our facts to our theory, as is so often done, by 

 supposing that these movements and actions, which 

 we have ascribed to intelligence, are in reality due to 

 rudimentary instinct, and to unconscious instinct 

 alone ? Or are we to fail back on a second hypothesis, 

 to deny the hitherto received rule, and maintain 

 boldly that the lowest mental development does not 

 necessarily co-exist with the lowest physical structure ? 



Let us take each of these points separately. 



In the first place, I do not think that any one who 

 has studied the Infusoria with any care will deny 

 them the possession of this intelligence ; it is un- 

 necessary to multiply instances, they will appear to 

 any who take the trouble to look for them. But if 

 we merely examine under our microscope a drop of 

 water containing Infusoria, we shall at once be struck 



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