4GG MisccUuncous. 



Lobelia s;/2>hiUl{cu during oi:c day. These wore identified by 

 Mr. AVilliam J, Fox as follows: — yylocopa virf/iiiicn, Bomhus penn- 

 ftflvauicvf, Bomhus ftrviifus, Bombus (nnericuuorum var. ^;«///V/H.t, 

 Apis mcllifera, and a sand-wasp, >S<oH<( dubia. It is wortliy of 

 note that the lionty-bee did not visit the flowers till late in the 

 season. About fifty yards away fruni these plants was a large bed 

 of Sid Km spectabiJe, which at the earlier stage of these obsoiA-ations 

 werecrowded bylhis well-known honcy-gfithcror. It may be inferred 

 that as long as they lasted tluycolltcted all needed from these floweis. 

 Ilouey-bees, at any rate, are not numerous in tliis vicinity. 



At the end of the season no difference could be observed in the 

 fertility of the two species. J'-very capsule seemed abundantly 

 seed-bearing. The presence or absence of insect-visitors had no 

 effect. Dissecting the flowers from time to time, and in various 

 stages before and after anthesis, some original and interesting 

 l)henomena were observed. At the period Mhon the anthers have 

 reached their full development a rest is taken, apparently till the 

 next day. Then the style eloTigates until it seems to be held fast 

 by the united anther-cap. After a short rest it is again in motion, 

 the anther-cells burst, and the pollen is ejected so forcibly through 

 the crown as to sometimes cover the scarlet petals with powder. 

 In the case of the blue-flowered species, bees occasionally get a 

 portion of the pollen-shower. 



Aside from the interesting fact in regard to the forcible ejection 

 of the pollen, and the free fertility under self-fertilization — for, not- 

 withstanding the freedom of insect-visitors, Lobelia s>/p>7dlitica is 

 absolutely self-fertilized —note may be taken of differing observa- 

 tions. Of Lobelia fidfjens, which is essentially identical with 

 Lobelia cardinalis, Mr. Darwin says, in his * Cross and »Self-fertiliza- 

 tion in the Vegetable Kiigdom': "This plant is never visited in 

 my garden by bees, and is quite sterile ; but in a nursery-garden at 

 a few miles' distance I saw humltlc-bees visiting the flowers, and 

 ihey produced some capsules.'"' Mr. Darwin once stated that one 

 might as well use organic dust as to endeavour to get seeds of 

 Linnm pjertnne by the aid of its own jiolleJi. I found Linvin 

 'perenne of our liocky Mountains abundantly fertile with own- 

 pollen, and said so in one of my papers. Mr. Darwin took this 

 to be an attempt to discredit his observation, and naturally felt 

 aggrieved. My thought is rather that plants and insects behave 

 difl'erently under difleient conditions, and that failure or facturo 

 in perfecting seeds should often be referred to phases of nutrition 

 aside from the action of insects. 



The facts here recorded afford a valuable lesson on this matter. 

 I^ohelia syphilitica, with its shorter and more open corolla, could bo 

 more easily rifled of its nectar, and as the flowers were in great 

 abundance, aiid fresh flowers opened daily, the insects worked in 

 tlie easiest lines. In the case of the Sednm it will also be noted 

 that the bees continued their easier woik on this, before seeking 

 the more difficult Lobelia. The failure of Mr. Darwin's Lobelia to 

 produce, while mine were fertile, is obviously duo to nutritive con- 

 ditions. He was mistaken in referring the failure to the absence of 

 insects, Itut no one would for a moment discredit his oliservation, — 

 I'roc. Acad. ynl. Sri. Philnd.^ Fd). 10O2. J.p. Ti"), .'J^J. 



