76 STUDIES IN THE FIELD AND FOREST. 



vation of that plant or animal, and their respective 

 species, and not for the advantage of another ; as a man 

 builds a house with windows, not for the sake of 

 accommodating the sun, but for the sake of affording 

 the inhabitants the benefit of his light. If we observe 

 that a certain plant bears a flower with beautiful forms 

 and hues, and with sweet odors, we are rational in sup 

 posing that these forms, hues, and odors are given it for 

 some purpose needful to itself or its species; and not 

 for the benefit of the insects that may thereby be 

 attracted to it, nor for that of man, whose senses may 

 be regaled by it. They are an indispensable part of 

 nature's arrangements for the preservation of the indi 

 vidual or the perpetuation of the species, and for these 

 purposes alone. 



The honey in the nectary of the flower is a part of 

 that apparatus, which, in connection with the corolla 

 and the essences that emanate from the flower, nature 

 has provided for the perpetuation of the species, by 

 securing the cooperation of insects in the work of fertil 

 izing the blossom. But the honey in the nectary of the 

 flower, though placed there to entice the bees and other 

 insects, is not designed for the special good of these 

 insects, but to cause them to perform an act of special 

 benefit to the flower or the plant. The honey being 

 placed there, nature then forms the bee with instru 

 ments for obtaining the honey, and with an instinct 

 that guides him to it. But she places no burdens on 

 one species for the mere benefit of another. The dif 

 ferent parts of the flower are evidently arranged with 

 reference to the development and perfection of the 

 seeds and fruit ; and there is reason to believe that the 

 calyx, the corolla, the hues and fragrance and the forms 

 of the flower are all aids in perfecting the seeds and 



