THE FLOWER AND THE BEE 



The columbines manage to thrive and bloom under the most 

 difficult conditions of soil and climate. The long spurs of the 

 variously colored, pendulous flowers of the garden-columbine 



Fig. 37. Monk's-Hood. Aconitum Napellus 

 A bumblebee-flower 



(Aquilegia vulgaris) are rich in nectar and are great favorites of 

 bumblebees. (Fig. 38.) Sometimes they bite holes in the 

 spurs in order to save time, and then the honey-bees also come 

 and suck the nectar through these punctures. Our wild colum- 

 bine (A. canadensis) has scarlet flowers which are yellow inside, 

 or rarely all over, and is chiefly visited by humming-birds. 



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