134 THE BEAUTIES OF NATURE CHAP. 



THE 'HEATH 



In the hanging flowers of Heaths the sta- 

 mens form a ring, and each one baars two 

 horns. When the Bee inserts its proboscis 

 into the flower to reach the honey, it is sure 

 to press against one of these horns, the ring 

 is dislocated, and the pollen falls on to the 

 head of the insect. In fact, any number of 

 other interesting cases might be mentioned. 



BEES AND FLIES 



Bees are intelligent insects, and would soon 

 cease to visit flowers which did not supply 

 them with food. Flies, however, are more 

 stupid, and are often deceived. Thus in our 

 lovely little Parnassia, five of the ten stamens 

 have ceased to produce pollen, but are pro- 

 longed into fingers, each terminating in a 

 shining yellow knob, which looks exactly like 

 a drop of honey, and by which Flies are con- 



