136 THE BEAUTIES OF NATURE CHAP, 
PAST HISTORY OF FLOWERS 
If the views here advocated are correct, it 
follows that the original flowers were small 
and green, as wind-fertilised flowers are even 
now. But such flowers are inconspicuous. 
Those which are coloured, say yellow or white, 
are of course much more visible and more. 
likely to be visited by insects. I have else- 
where given my reasons for thinking that 
under these circumstances some flowers be- 
came yellow, that some of them became white, 
others subsequently red, and some finally blue. 
It will be observed that red and blue flowers 
are as a rule highly specialised, such as 
Aconites and Larkspurs as compared with 
Buttercups; blue Gentians as compared with 
yellow, etc- I have found by experiment 
that Bees are especially partial to blue and 
pink. 
Tubular flowers almost always, if not 
always, contain honey, and are specially suited 
to Butterflies and Moths, Bees and Flies. 
Those which are fertilised by Moths generally 
