THE FLOWER. 



17 



The flowering seasons also fit into one another in a 

 very curious way. 



On such a shady slope as one finds in any wooded 

 ravine, a regular succession of flowers appears, one after 

 the other, beginning in early spring. The flowers of 

 Ranunculus ficaria open first of all, and are visited by 



Fig. 2.— Humble bees in Poppy Flowers. 



those hardy insects which can resist the cold weather ; 

 then Primroses appear ready for the queen Bombus, 

 just as she is beginning to form her nest. Very soon 

 the blue Hyacinth, the Dog's Mercury, and Garlic 

 {Allium ursinuni) follow closely one after the other. 

 With the last named most of the sylvan flowers are in 

 full blossom, so that their seasons correspond to the 

 maximum insect population which is found in early 



(B7) 



B 



