THE PALE LAUREL. 89 



out the aid of an insect. Bees are the insects thus far observed to 

 frequent these flowers ; and it is interesting to watch the operations 

 of a humble-bee upon them. The bee, remaining on the wing, 

 circles for a moment over each flower, thrusting its proboscis all 

 round the ovary at the bottom ; in doing this it jostles and lets off 

 the springs, and receives upon the under side of its body and its 

 legs successive charges of pollen. Flying to another blossom, it 

 brings its yellow-dusted body against the stigma, and commonly 

 revolving on it as on a pivot, while it sucks the nectar in the 

 bottom of the flower-cups, liberates the ten bowed stamens, and 

 receives fresh charges of pollen from that flower when fertilizing it 

 with the pollen of the preceding one. This account is founded on 

 the observations of Prof. Beal of Michigan, who also states that 

 when a cluster of blossoms is covered with fine gauze, no stamen 

 gets liberated of itself, while fit for action, and no seed sets." So 

 the Laurel feeds the bee, and the bee in turn pollenizes the 

 Laurel and makes it fruitful. The plentiful flowers of the Pale 

 Laurel will help to make and adorn such a scene in nature as 

 this which the poet paints, every word a pigment. 



The sun of May was bright in middle heaven, 

 And steeped the sprouting forests, the green hills, 

 And emerald wheat-fields, in his yellow light. 

 Upon the apple-tree, where rosy buds 

 Stood clustered, ready to burst forth in bloom, 

 The robin warbled forth his full clear note 

 For hours, and wearied not. Within the woods, 

 Whose young and half transparent leaves scarce cast 

 A shade, gay circles of anemones 



Danced on their stalks; the shad-bush, white with flowers, 

 Brightened the glens; the new-leaved butternut 



