CACTUS AND SUCCULENTS 121 



them. Some of them, however, are very odd and look 

 like anything except a flower. The Stapelia have such 

 peculiar habits and blossoms. They are interesting. 

 The flowers are all queer shapes and colors opening 

 rather suddenly, then closing into a rather tight ball. 

 There is a peculiar disagreeable odor that attracts 

 flies. The first one I worked on when the bud first 

 opened, a large "blue bottle" fly deposited a mass of 

 eggs among the hairy anthers. In eight hours they 

 all hatched and there was a colony of crawling mag- 

 gots in it. Really not a nice addition to my movie 

 party, but attracting much attention. The flower 

 closed tightly at this period so I do not know 

 whether or not they found sustenance for their five 

 days pre-pupa stage this time of continuous eating 

 which must sustain them during this period. 



