560 THE FERTILISATION OF FLOWERS. [PART III. 
Sprengel has correctly stated, the six anthers, which lie close 
round the style, dehisce by apical slits, and when touched permit 
a little pollen to fall out; each anther sends a process outwards 
towards the perianth, but this is not at all a contrivance to guard 
the honey from rain, but a very important arrangement favouring 
cross-fertilisation. For when an insect tries to reach the honey, it 
cannot avoid touching one or more of these anther-processes, and 
so causes the pollen to be shaken out upon its head. The style 
projects beyond the anthers, and the insect therefore touches the 
stigma before it gets dusted with the pollen of the flower. In case 
of insect-visits, cross-fertilisation is thus ensured; but in absence 
of insects self-fertilisation is apt to take place by dled oe on 
the stigma. 
The hive-bee visits the flowers diligently in sunny weather, 
as Sprengel observed; alighting on one of the outer perianth- 
segments. If in search of pollen, it thrusts its head, forelegs, and 
midlegs into the flower, clinging by means of its hindlegs to the 
outer surface of an inner perianth-segment. With the tarsal 
brushes of its fore and mid-legs it sweeps pollen from the anthers, 
and places it in the baskets on its hindlegs. If it wishes to suck 
honey, it usually finds it more convenient to use its fore and mid- 
legs for clinging to the perianth. In either case the bee’s head 
may always be found covered plentifully with pollen. 
Narcissus Tazetta.—Delpino thinks that this species is chiefly 
fertilised, like many other Amaryllidez, by nocturnal or crepuscular 
Lepidoptera. However, he has directly observed it to be visited 
by Anthophora pilipes (177, p. 59). 
Crinum.—A. species with white, sweet-scented flowers, about 
seven inches long, is believed by Delpino to be fertilised by 
butterflies and by honey-sucking birds in its native country, and 
by butterflies in Florence. He found butterflies’ scales upon the 
stigma, and saw good seed repeatedly borne by the flowers. The 
essential organs are exserted, and the stigmatic surface is not 
exposed until the anthers have withered (177, p. 56). 
Pancratium maritimum.—-The honey is very deeply situated, 
and the flower seems to be adapted for Sphinx Convolvuli by which 
it is very frequently visited (172, p. 17; 352, p. 794). 
Orv. TACCACE@. 
Tacca (Ataccia) cristata.—The flower, in Delpino’s opinion, has a 
similar mechanism to that of Aspidistra elatior (178, 360). 
oh igi 
