A FEW NATIVE ORCHIDS 



193 



are many of these smaller sphinxes. Let us sup- 

 pose one to be hovering at the blossom's throat. 

 Its slender capillary tongue enters the opening. 

 Ere it can reach the sweets the insect's head 

 must be forced well into the throat of the blos- 

 som, where we now 

 observe a most re- 

 markable special pro- 

 vision, the space be- 

 tween the two pollen 

 discs being exactly ad- 

 justed to the diameter 

 of the insect's head. 

 What follows this en- 

 trance of the moth 

 is plainly pictured in 

 the progressive series 

 of illustrations (Fig. 

 6). A represents the 

 insect sipping ; the 

 sticky discs are 

 brought in contact 

 with the moth's eyes, 

 to which they ad- 

 here, and by which 

 they are withdrawn 



from their pouches Fig. 6 



13 



