:o 



THE MILKWEED**- 233 



this nectar the insect must hang to the bulky 

 blossom. Instantly, and almost of necessity, it 

 would seem, one or more of the feet are seen to 

 enter the upper opening of the fissure, and during 

 the insects movements are drawn through to the 

 base. The foot is thus conducted directly be- 

 tween the two viscid discs, which immediately 

 cling closer than a brother, and as the foot is final- 

 ly withdrawn, the pollen is pulled from its cell. 

 The member now released seeks a fresh hold, and 

 the same result follows, the leg almost inevitably 

 entering the fissure, and this time drawing in the 

 pollen directly against the sticky stigmatic sur- 

 face within. The five honey -horns have now 

 been drained, and as our bee leaves the flower he 

 is plainly detained by this too hearty " shake " or 

 " grip " of his host, and quite commonly must 

 exert a slight struggle to free himself. As the 

 foot is thus forcibly torn away, the pollen mass is 

 commonly scraped entirely off and retained with- 

 in the fissure, or perhaps parts at the stalk, leav- 

 ing the terminal disc clinging on the insect's leg. 

 Occasionally, when more than one leg is entangled, 

 the dangling blossom is tossed and swayed for sev- 

 eral seconds by the vigorous pulling and buzzing, 

 and a number of these temporary captives upon 

 a single milkweed-plant are always to be seen. 



