The Botanical Instinct 



latum, SCOP.). The difference in the colour 

 of the flowers causes her no hesitation. 



Can she be apprised by the majestic stat- 

 ure, by the sturdy prickles? No, for we 

 next see her established on a humble and 

 much less savage plant, Carduus nigrescens, 

 VILL., which rises hardly more than nine 

 inches from the ground. 



Can it be the size of the heads that regu- 

 lates her choice? Not so, either, for the 

 paltry heads of Carduus tenuiflorus, CART., 

 are accepted as readily as the sizable blooms 

 of the above three thistles. 



But the subtle expert is even cleverer than 

 this. Regardless of mien, foliage, flavour 

 or colour, she actively exploits Kentro- 

 phyllum lanatum, D. C., a plant with 

 wretched yellow flowers soiled by the dust of 

 the roads. To recognize a Carduacea in 

 this dry and unsightly plant you have to be 

 a botanist or a Weevil. 



A fourth Larinus (L. scolymi, OLIV.) 

 surpasses the Spangled Larinus. We find 

 her at work on the garden artichoke and the 

 garden cardoon, both of them giants that 

 lift their great blue heads to a height of six 

 feet and more. We meet her afterwards on 

 85 



