FLORA OF McNAB's ISLAND, HALIFAX, N. S. — KARBOUR. 559 



Ividaceoe. 



Iris versicolor. Blue flag. — Subject to little variation. 250 

 examined. The variations occurred in the flat, petaloid, arch- 

 ing stigmas. In 160, the stigmas })ossessed two irregular lobes 

 at the apex, ^^•hich may be considered to be what usually hap- 

 pens; 66 specimens had three lobes; 20 specimens had but one 

 lobe. In four specimens I found one stigma absent, and in 

 these the corresponding stamen Avas also absent. 



Sis]jrinc)iiu})i inujustijojium. Blue-eyed grass. — 300 speci- 

 mens examined. I have practically nothing 'new to add to what 

 I said about this flower in a paper read before this society two 

 years ago, I have not examined so many specimens of this plant 

 this year as I did then, but the results work out the same. 

 There was but o'ne new feature I noticed, and that occurred 

 only in six or eight specimens — it was the presence of little 

 wings on the divisions of the perianth, one on each side. 



A question was asked me at the time I read my last paper, 

 which then I could not reply to. I now wish to say the cotyle- 

 dons have nothing whatever to do wuth the variations observed ; 

 rather it is, as in Iris versicolor as well, a selective effort on the 

 part of the flower to increase its surface area to attract certain 

 insects more frequently and suitably, and it depends, I think, 

 on that instinctive faculty, unco'nscious perhaps in a sense, 

 which I believe animals and plants possess in common, though 

 in varying degree, to reproduce more and more of their kind, 

 even to the detriment of others, if not obtainable otherwise. 



Caprifoliacece. 



Linnaa boreaJis. Twin flower. — 400 specimens examined. 

 jSTo variations worth noting were seen. This flower is one of 

 the most regular plants I have ever examined, and its beauty 

 is onlv enhanced bv its modestv. 



