HA RD WICKE 'S S CIENCE - G OS SIP. 



*57 



ness, sweet-scentedness, such as the Labiate?, are the 

 most recently evolved, and that with this development 

 have been correlated the colours of insects. Also 

 similarly is it so in the case of coloured fleshy fruits 

 and the development of the colour sense in the higher 

 vertebrates to suit their frugivorous tastes. And it is 

 interesting to remark that these higher stages have 

 been observed to be intensified even in historic 

 times, as in the case of the human race ; for the mere 

 mention of colour itself — that is to say, in any sense 

 of appreciation — is entirely absent from the most 

 ancient literary works which we possess. 



and also of both colour and the colour sense in the 

 vegetable and the animal world.* 



A recent observation of my own upon a member of 

 \h&Scrophularine<z\z.<$. me to the idea of communicating 

 the foregoing remarks as introductory to those I am 

 about to make in reference to the development of 

 floral adaptations in relation to fertilization. 



Unquestionably the prime important function of 

 life, both vegetable and animal, is the securing of 

 means for perpetuating its existence, but in an 

 improved direction. Therefore, if in the former 

 division of the organic world any usual acquisition be 



Fig. 107. Raceme of Schizauthits tapilionaceus (nat. size). 



These views may be looked upon as more or less 

 fanciful, but nevertheless it is difficult to say they are 

 vain speculations, and they combine, moreover, to 

 harmonize with other great principles of evolution 

 already propounded. But I will not dwell upon this 

 theme here, pregnant as it is with fascination and 

 interest. Readers of Science-Gossip will find else- 

 where matter which sets forth the views affecting the 

 development of flowers, constituting the Phanerogams, 



occasionally wanting pertaining to these means for 

 reproduction, it often happens that some organ or 

 organs is or are so modified as to supersede that incon- 

 venience. For instance, the plant Ajuga ophrydis, 

 of South Africa, has flowers much resembling those 



* Vide" The Colours of Animals and Plants," by Alfred R. 

 Wallace, in Macmillaiis Magazine for September and October, 

 1877 ; " The Origin of Flowers," in the Corn/till Magazine for 

 May, 1S78 ; and J. E. Taylor's recently-published " Flowers : 

 their Shapes, Perfumes, and Colours." 



