Pen 
1875.] Modern Entomology. 22% 
must here be called to an important fact, first pointed 
out by Mr. Darwin, that when a flower is so constructed as 
to be capable of fertilisation by the wind, it never has a gaily- 
coloured corolla. If a momentary digression may be allowed, 
we would urge that an observer ‘capable of detecting so 
capital a point, after it had escaped the notice of genera- 
tions of botanists, is evidently not the mere amateur theorist 
which he is represented by the ‘‘ rash envy” of MM. Milne- 
Edwards and Quatrefages. It appears, then, that the 
beauty of flowers, as well as their odours, are not unessen- 
tial attributes designed for the amusement of man, but sub- 
serve an important purpose in the life of a plant. The 
more conspicuous a flower by colour or scent, the more 
certainly it will be visited by insects, the more surely its 
seed will be fecundated, and it will thus be enabled to per- 
petuate itself. Here, then, we see ‘‘ natural selection”’ at 
work, and in this case it really tends to the preservation and 
multiplication of the most beautiful, and to a continued 
increase in brilliance of hue and delicacy of perfume. 
Sir J. Lubbock has proved by experiments, which, how- 
ever, he does not here detail, that inse¢ts—bees at least— 
are really attracted by and can distinguish colours. This, 
we must remark, is a most interesting fact, as proving 
a certain community between them and ourselves, not 
merely in the process of vision, but in the mental faculties. 
Animals, too, have their esthetics. But the author continues: 
*“* Flowers, however sweet-smelling or beautiful, would 
not be visited by insects unless they had some inducements 
more substantial to offer. These advantages are the pollen 
and the honey; although it has been suggested that some 
flowers beguile insects by holding out the expe¢tation of 
honey which does not really exist, just as some animals 
repel their enemies by resembling other species which 
are either dangerous or disagreeable.” 
That such false pretences may really exist becomes all 
the more probable if we remember that certain plants 
attract insects by a carrion-like smell, and then kill and eat 
them. Of these carnivorous plants we find an interesting 
account in the present work, taken from the observations of 
Ellis, Hooker, and Canby. If it be asked why the self-fructi- 
fication of plants should not be desirable, Sir J. Lubbock 
gives the reply: ‘‘ Kolreuter speaks with astonishment 
of the statura portentosa of some plants thus raised by him; 
indeed, says Mr. Darwin, ‘all experimenters have been 
struck with the wonderful vigour, height, size, tenacity 
of life, precocity, and hardiness “of their hybrid productions.’ 
VOL. V. (N.S.) ZG 
