224 



HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



them it may appear one of the links wanting in the 

 development-of-colour theory. Here, it may be said, 

 is a tendency to a bright colour existing in a plant. 

 Suppose a whorl of green leaves surrounding the 

 stamens to get a tinge of red. That particular flower 

 would succeed better in attracting insects, would 

 consequently be better fertilised, produce stronger 

 progeny, and get an advantage in the struggle 

 for existence. Therefore the colour would be 

 developed and perfected. Such a line of reason- 

 ing seems very unsatisfactory since we have colour 

 perfectly developed without the agency of insects, 

 and brilliant colour existing without attracting 

 the latter. It appears to me that upholders of 

 such set fact and logic alike at defiance, and draw 

 largely on the imagination. So much, indeed, 

 as far as regards the latter two, is confessed by 

 one who is no mean authority on the matter. 



Facts such as those given above, and tending 

 the same way, could doubtless be multiplied. I 

 will only mention, in conclusion, two more, which 

 seem to have a special bearing on the question. 



White hawthorn is, if I am not mistaken, a 

 flower much frequented by bees. It has a very 

 decided tendency to assume a pink shade in 

 fading. The art of the gardener has preserved 

 and perfected this tendency, and we have a bright 

 red variety, common enough in our gardens. Is 

 it not strange, supposing the colour theory to be 

 correct, that, in spite of this tendency and insect 

 preference, their selective action has not evolved 

 a red hawthorn ? And is the red variety which 

 man has preserved any better able to propagate 

 its kind by reason of its possessing the colour 

 preferred by its insect friends ? If we ask the 

 question of our gardening friends, the answer 

 will probably be " not nearly so well ! " 



Again, there are certain umbelliferous plants to 

 which bees resort, having a decided shade of 

 pink before expanding ; at a time, that is, when 

 the visits of insects could be of no advantage. 

 When fully expanded and ready to receive the 

 latter they are white ! 



A BOOK-MITE. 



THE following drawings illustrate portions of 

 the anatomy of a small pinkish mite, which 

 I found scampering across the pages of a book. 

 (Fig. 123.) 



Its mouth parts are unlike those I have 

 observed in mites previously examined by me. 



A faint furrow is indicated immediately posterior 

 to the third pair of legs. 



The second, third, and fourth pairs of legs are of 

 nearly equal length. The first pair is much longer 

 than the rest, and both these and the fourth pair 

 are inserted further under the body than the second 

 and third pairs. The legs are in two groups, the first 



and second being at a greater distance from the 

 posterior group than they are from each other 

 (Fig. 124). The legs are covered with distinct trans- 

 verse markings, furrows, I believe, judging from 

 the appearance presented on their edges. 



All the legs in the mounted object appear to 

 terminate in bristles. Is it likely that claws have 



Fie. 126. — Mouth 

 Obj. Seibert, No. 

 Oc. A. X 600. 



parts. 

 VII, 



Fig. 125. — Mouth parts. 

 Obj. Seibert, No. III., 

 Oc. A. X 95- 



Fig. 127.— Mouth parts. Obj. Zeiss D., Oc. A. X 2S0. 



been detached in the process of mounting ? The 

 hairs (Fig. 129), which are a noticeable feature on 

 the body and legs, are closely feathered as in the 

 Arachnida. Wavy undulating lines occur over the 

 abdomen. Do these admit of considerable dis- 

 tension of that portion of the body ? The lines 

 I refer to somewhat resemble those on the body of 



