142 



MY STUDIO NEIGHBORS 



mann Muller's wonderful work, aided by a bo- 

 tanical illustration of the structure of the flower, 

 I am readily enabled to picture the progressive 

 stages of the mechanism. 



"#- 5* 

 & 



-r^m 

 1 



In the first stage (B, Fig. 13) small flies with bod- 

 ies dusted with pollen from a previous arum blos- 

 som (for insects, as a rule, remain faithful or partial 

 to one species of flowers while it is in bloom) are 

 entering the narrowed tube, easily passing through 

 the drooping fringe of hairs. Nectar is secreted 

 by the stigmas, and here the flies assemble, thus 

 dusting them with pollen. Their appetite tempo- 

 rarily satisfied, the insects seek escape, but find 

 their exit effectually barred by the intruding 

 fringe of hairs (C). In this second stage the stig- 



