VIOLET FAMILY 



139 



tage to the flower, which can sift the pollen down- 

 ward on the bee instead of exposing it to pollen- 

 eating interlopers. Among the latter may be 

 classed the bumble-bees and butterflies, whose 



Photograph by A. H. V t 



BLUE VIOLET 



long tongues pilfer ad libitum. ' For the proper 

 visitors to the bearded Violets/ says Mr. Robert- 

 son, ' we must look to the small bees, among 

 which the Osmias are the most important.' ' 



