Cuckoo-Pint. 24; 



small insect friends of less pronounced aesthetic 

 tastes ; and this is especially the case, among other 

 classes, with almost all waterside plants. Hence such 

 plants have usually acquired small and inconspicuous 

 separate flowers ; and then, to make up for their loss 

 in attractiveness, like cheap sweetmeats, they have 

 ver}' largely increased their numbers. Or, to put the 

 matter more simply and physically, in waterside 

 situations those plants succeed best which have a 

 relatively large number of individually small and 

 unnoticeable flowers, massed together into large and 

 closely serried bundles. Hence, in such situations, 

 there is a tendency for petals to be suppressed, and 

 for blossoms to grow minute ; because the large and 

 bright flowers seldom succeed in attracting big land- 

 insects like bees or butterflies, while the small and 

 thick-set ones usually do succeed in attracting a great 

 many little flitting waterside midges. Examples may 

 be found in the rushes, bur-reeds, catstails, and man\- 

 other freshwater plants. 



For such a role our friend the sweet-sedge is 

 peculiarly well adapted. Its small yellowish blossoms, 

 though separately unnoteworth)^ are rendered con- 

 spicuous in the mass bj- their dense grouping : and its 

 extremely aromatic perfume makes it a great favourite 

 with the tiny flies and water-haunting insects, who 



