INTERDEPENDENCE OF ORGANISMS 27 



First, select a flower that is abundant, and that has pol- 

 len and nectar so exposed as to be accessible to a consider- 

 able variety of visitors. Before beginning to observe 

 the visitors study the structure of the flov/er itself , as to i) 

 the position of the pollen and nectar stores, 2) the 

 passageway to the nectar and its guards, 3) the position 

 of anthers and stigmas in relation to this passage at 

 different stages of flo'vvering, and if clustered, 4) the form of 

 cluster as likely to affect the convenience of big or little 

 visitors. 



The field work of the following outline must of necessity 

 be individual: it cannot be done in a crowd: the student 

 should work quite alone so as to avoid having his observa- 

 tions interrupted by the movement of companions. He 

 should w^ear quiet colors, and approach the insects cau- 

 tiously, avoiding quick motions : thus it will be quite possible 

 to observe many of them at work under a lens. Some 

 degree of warmth and sunshine and dryness of the weather 

 will also be necessary to success. 



The record of observations. — From a study of as many 

 kinds of insect visitors as can conveniently be found, fill 

 out a table prepared with the following column headings 

 (abbreviating as desired) : 



I. Name of the insect. 



Order to which it belon^'S. 



Seeking pollen or nectar. 



Alights where. , 



Enters how far. 



Touches stigma or anther first. 



Carries pollen how. 



Visits how many flowers in succession without inter- 

 vening long flight. 



9. Visits how many flowers per minute. 



