136 THE FERTILISATION OF FLOWERS. [PART III. 
honey-glands on the outer side of their bases, only show signs of 
abortion when the inner series are all abortive; at most, two of 
them disappear, but the corresponding glands always remain. 
In sunny weather so much honey is secreted that the five 
drops are easily seen by the naked eye. The stamens, especially 
when their number has been reduced to three, come to maturity in 
slow succession. Immediately after the flower opens, the first 
anther begins to dehisce, and the stigmas still stand erect with their 
papillar sides turned inwards; but their tips are already slightly 
outspread. While the second and third stamens dehisce, the 
stigmas expand fully, and turn the whole of their papillar surfaces _ 
upwards. So from the beginning cross-fertilisation and self-ferti- 
lisation, in the event of insect-visits, are both equally likely; in 
absence of insects the stigmas regularly fertilise themselves by 
coming in contact with the anthers. This self-fertilisation is 
undoubtedly efficient, for S. media produces abundant seed in 
winter when no insects are about, and in long-continued rainy 
weather. 
Stellaria media has the greatest chance of cross-fertilisation in 
early spring, for before that time no insects are on the wing, and 
afterwards many more attractive flowers compete with it. My own 
observations confirm this. 
A. Hymenoptera—Apide : (1) Andrena Gwynana, K. 9, s. and c.p. (April 
11, 1869) ; (2) A. albicans, K. g, s. (do.) ; (3) A. dorsata, K.?,s. (do.) ; (4) A. 
parvula, K.g,s. (April 21, 1869) ; (5) A. albicrus, K. ¢,s. (do.) ; (6) Osmia 
rufa, L. ¢, s. (April 17, 1869). B. Diptera—(a) Syrphide: (7) Syritta 
pipiens, L., s. (May 27, 1870) ; (6) Muscide: (8) Chlorops circumdata, Mgn., 
diligently s. (March 9, 1872) ; (9) Musca corvina, F., do. ; (10) M. domestica, 
L., do. C. Thysanoptera—(11) Thrips, dusted with pollen, creeping in and 
out of the flower (April 30, 1868). See also No. 590, 1. 
Stellaria cerastoides, L., is homogamous and is visited by 
Diptera. It fertilises itself in case of need (609). 
67. ARENARIA (M@HRINGIA) TRINERVIA, L.-—At the base of 
the expanded flower, on the outer side of the base of each outer 
stamen, we see a rather large drop of honey. The fleshy swellings 
at the bases of these stamens, which act as honey-glands, are so 
strongly developed and extend so far on either side, that they 
coalesce, and the five together form a ring round the ovary; from 
this ring the five inner stamens (which alternate with the others, 
and stand opposite to the petals) seem to spring. 
When the flower opens, the stigmas are already separated and 
turn their rough papillar surface upwards, while the anthers remain 
