1 6 PLANT LIFE. 



to the British Flora. For these a white colour is best, 

 as it is most easily distinguished at night, and a strong 

 scent is decidedly of advantage. Lychnis vespei-tina, 

 the Evening Campion, is a very excellent example. 

 The flowers are not nearly so conspicuous in the 

 daytime as at night, and they, in fact, partly close in 

 daylight, so as to reserve themselves for the evening 

 moths. The scent is also considerably stronger at 

 night. The Honeysuckle is also a very distinct moth- 

 flower. 



(v.) The hive bees, humble bees and wasps have 

 been already mentioned. It is almost certain that 

 they have an eye for colour, as is shown by the follow- 

 ing incident. A weak after-swarm of bees which had 

 been brought up in a blue-striped hive were scattered 

 accidentally. Their dead bodies were found in great 

 numbers at the door of every blue hive in the apiary. 



Besides these roughly outlined classes, there are 

 many flowers which have a special clientele of their 

 own. 



(vi.) Carrion flies, which feed on decaying animal 

 matters and meat, are probably responsible for the 

 horrible smell and the curious colours of some Arums 

 and Stapelias which are very like the material on which 

 they feed. It is said that these flies are deceived by 

 this resemblance, and actually lay their eggs upon 

 them. 



Before mentioning other methods by which plants 

 get their pollen conveyed, it is interesting to note how 

 very closely the insect and flower worlds depend upon 

 one another. Every plant has its own flowering season, 

 which may last for a few days, several months, or even 

 in such cases as the Whin, Dead-nettle, Chickweed and 

 Cerastium, for nearly the whole year. 



(B7) 



