154 THE HUMAN SIDE OF PLANTS 



its way out and crawls to the earth, living there in 

 the form of a chrysalis until its resurrection as a 

 full-fledged yucca-moth. 



Most plants are honest. Even the kidnappers 

 offer some reward, at least a temporary one, to 

 the insects they deceive ; but there are a few plants 

 with showy blossoms, like the Grass of Parnassus, 

 which employ the services of insects without giving 

 any remuneration. In their flaring costumes and 

 their unlovely habits they are remarkably analogous 

 to the flashily clothed "confidence man" whom the 

 human race endures. 



These plants are deceptive. In the centre of each 

 of their blossoms they create the peculiar illusion of 

 a drop of honey the plant's "gold brick." This 

 is done by means of tiny hairs skillfully arranged 

 around a shiny knob, appearing for all the world 

 like an honest drop of pure honey. Numerous in- 

 sects, seeing what they believe to be glistening nec- 

 tar, visit the hypocrites in the belief that they will 

 receive a delicious meal. They leave without the 

 honey, poor things; but the plant has attained its 

 end, for each insect carries away, unintentionally, a 

 good supply of pollen. Forgetting the flower's de- 

 ceit, or hoping that the next flower might be more 

 honest, the still-hungry guest calls immediately 

 upon another blossom that has its glistening lure. 



