i8o (iLlMI'ShS IXTO f'LAXJ-LIFE 



.stiy,ma, w hich is at the end uf a lung pistil, is like 

 the head of a pin in the throat of the primrose. 



Looking" at the sketch, we see at once that self- 

 pollination is hindered b\' the fact that the anthers 

 in this flower being at the bottom of the tube, the 

 pollen they contain must be transferred by some 

 direct agency before it can come in contact with 

 any stigma. Now let us examine the other flowers 

 in our primrose nosegay ; we find the stamens in 

 these are placed in the mouth of the tube, and the 

 ])istil is (]uite short and low down in position. At 

 first sight it appears as if the pollen Mould fall 

 directly upon the pistil, since the stamens are 

 above that organ, but this is not exactly what 

 happens ; the pollen of this particular form of 

 flower is shed before the stigma is mature, so 

 that when it has reached maturit}' the pollen 

 is all gone. 



The arrangement of nature is as follows. An 

 insect attracted by the sweet-smelling bank of 

 primroses will visit the flowers, thrusting its 

 proboscis down a pin-eyed flower until in so 

 doing its head has been dusted \\ith the pollen 

 of the stamens ; then withdrawing from that 



