EFFORT AND ACCOMPLISHMENT 193 



and pollen. Accordingly, flowers take great pre- 

 cautions to protect their stores from rain-fall. The 

 arching hoods of the sage, gladiolus and Jack-in- 

 the-Pulpit are one means to this end. Many flowers 

 close, others droop, to shed the rain. But I was at 

 a loss to understand how erect, saucer-shaped flow- 

 ers like the phlox veritable funnels could keep 

 dry in spite of rain, till I inspected my flower-bor- 

 der after a shower and found on the phlox blos- 

 soms little pearly drops reposing like crystal spheres 

 at the openings of the nectar wells. The tubes 

 were so small as to be capillary, and thus excluded 

 the drops. I have shown one such floret in the 

 colour plate. The pitcher-plant flower, which 

 covers its pollen with a little green umbrella, is also 

 depicted. 



LURES OF FLOWERS 



But when the flower has developed, the feast is 

 spread, and the banquet-hall is thrown open, the 

 desirable guests are bidden and cordially welcomed. 

 Gay-coloured banners and penetrating perfumes 

 announce the invitation; rich, soft carpets unroll 

 upon the doorstep, and strongly accentuated posters 

 indicate the exact entrance. These are known as 

 honey-guides, and consist of streaks and blotches 



