192 (UJMPSES IX TO r LA XT-LIFE 



birds, ai'ran*;"ed in cases, and some of the birds are 

 shown as they appear in Wfc, hoverin^,^ over tropical 

 flowers, drawin<^ hone)' from their hans^nng blossoms, 

 and performinc;" the useful office of transferring; the 

 pollen from one flower to another, thus ensurinj^ 

 the fertilisation of the seed. 



I might go on multiplying examples of the 

 various methods by which seed is rendered fertile, 

 but perhaps enough has been said to show what 

 hidden force exists in flowers to enable them to 

 attain the end for which they mainl)- exist, namely, 

 the perpetuation of their species by means of seed. 



Specimens to be obtained and compared \\ith 

 the descriptions in this chajoter : — Buttercup flower, 

 dog's mercury, hazel catkins, primrose flowers, 

 male blossoms of pine trees in June, Nottingham 

 catchfly, ox-eye daisy, bartsia, St. John's wort 

 flowers, and Japanese toad-lily. 



