parti] . THE MECHANISMS OF FLOWERS. 439 
surface of the insect, and allows of the style being so slightly in- 
clined that its presence does not interfere with the insect when 
alighting. An insect alighting on one of the lateral petals some- 
times draws the stamen opposite to this petal against its body, but 
with far less certainty. The chief visitors are Syrphide. 
Visitors: A. Diptera—Syrphide : (1) Rhingia rostrata, L., s., freq. ; (2) 
Melanostoma mellina, L. ; (3) Ascia podagrica, F., both very abundant. I 
repeatedly saw both effecting cross-fertilisation in the manner described. B. 
Hymenoptera—Apide : (4) Apis mellifica, L. $,¢.p.; (5) Andrena Gwynana, 
K. 9; (6) A. fulvicrus, K. 9; (7) Halictus longulus, Sm. ?, the last three 
both s. andc.p. C. Coleoptera—Cistelida : (8) Cistela rufipes, F., devouring 
the anthers. See also No. 590, m11., and No. 609. 
Fia. 148.— Veronica Chamedrys, 1. 
1,—Flower, viewed from the front. 
2.—Small fly (Ascia podagrica, Syrphide) hovering in front of the flower, attracted by its colour. 
8.—Flower at the moment when the fly, ea, aaeig on the inferior petal, grasps the bases of the 
filaments, and strikes the anthers tegether against the under surface of its body. 
4.—Ceutre of the flower, twice as much enlarged. 
5.—Pistil and nectary. 
6.— Calyx, with pistil and nectary. 
7.—Tube in longitudinal section. 
sd, protecting hairs; gr, style. 
Veronica urticifolia, L., has a similar floral mechanism to that of 
V. Chamedrys, and is likewise fertilised by Syrphidw. The honey 
is quite exposed without any contrivance to shelter it. The flowers 
are rose-pink, which is probably a more primitive colour than 
blue both in Veronica and in Myosotis (589, 609). 
Veronica montana, L., is more conspicuous and more abundantly 
_ visited by insects than V. Chameedrys (590, 609). 
325. VERONICA BeccaBuNnGA, L.—This species agrees with V. 
Chamedrys in regard to its nectaries and also in the means adopted 
