THE FLOWER AND THE BEE 



plants were growing on burned land and were of larger size 

 than usual. 



Butterflies are much less particular in their visits, and I 

 have frequently seen the silver- winged butterfly {Argynnis 

 aphrodite) fly back and forth between the flowers of the com- 

 mon elecampane (Inula Helenium) and the Canada thistle. 

 This yellowish-red butterfly was flitting about upon the large 

 yellow flower-heads of Inula, for which it showed a decided pref- 

 erence to the purple flowers of the thistle. The white cabbage- 

 butterfly, on the contrary, which was common on the thistle- 

 bloom, confined its visits chiefly to that species. This singular 

 behavior must have been determined by other causes than the 

 color of the flowers. In illustration of the irregular habits of 

 flies in visiting flowers, I may mention that I have seen the 

 syrphid fly Mesograpta germinata pass from the water-horehound 

 (Lycopus europceus) to the tear-thumb {Polygonum sagittatum) 

 and thence to the blossoms of the smaller willow-herb {Epilo- 

 bium molle), where its career ended in my collecting-net. 



When the nectar is deeply concealed in irregular flowers or 

 long nectaries, as in the larkspur, clover, columbine, fly-honey- 

 suckle, and skullcap, a much greater amount of time is required 

 to gather it than when it is fully exposed. Such flowers are 

 chiefly adapted to the skilful, long-tongued bees, while beetles, 

 flies, wasps, and many other insects are either unable to find 

 it or have a tongue too short to reach it. In order to obtain the 

 nectar more easily than by entering the flowers in the legitimate 

 way certain bumblebees have formed the curious habit of 

 biting holes in the nectaries or corolla-tubes. The holes are 

 made by the lacinise or lance-shaped ends of the maxillae. 

 The maxillae, which are the second pair of jaws and are situated 

 just below the mandibles, are composed of two joints, a basal 

 part called the stipe, and a terminal acutely pointed blade or 



96 



