ASSISTANCE OF INSECTS IN IMPREGNATION. 199 



covered with pollen, and depositing their eggs within 

 the cavity. 



The stamens and pistils of the Aristolochia Clematitit 

 are enclosed in its globular base, the anthers being 

 under the stigma, and by no means commodiously situa- 

 ted for conveying their pollen to it. This therefore is 

 accomplished by an insect, which enters the flower by 

 the tubular part. But that part being thickly lined with 

 inflexed hairs, though the fly enters easily, its return is 

 totally impeded, till the corolla fades, when the hairs 

 lie flat against the sides, and allow the captive to escape. 

 In the mean while the insect, continually struggling 

 for liberty, and pacing his prison round and round, has 

 brushed the pollen about the stigma. 



The ways in which insects serve the same purpose 

 are innumerable. These active little beings are pecu- 

 liarly busy about flowers in bright sunny weather, 

 when every blossom is expanded, the pollen in per- 

 fection, and all the powers of vegetation in their great- 

 est vigour. Tiien we see the rough sides and legs of 

 the bee laden with the golden dust which it shakes off, 

 and collects anew, in its visits to the honeyed stores 

 inviting it on every side. All Nature is then alive, and 

 a thousand wise ends are accomplished by innumera- 

 ble means that " seeing we perceive not ;" for though 

 in the abundance of creation there seems to be a waste, 

 yet in proportion as we understand the subject we 

 find the more reason to conclude that nothing is made 

 in vain." 



It is well known that in consequence of cultivation, 

 the stamens are often converted into petals, and the 

 preceding observations teach us why full or double 

 flower* are so rarely fertile. They teach us too, why 

 the botanist, who studies the character of the plant in 



