276 



FLASHLIGHTS ON NATURE 



the insects, and shows them in which direction to 

 approach the flower. 



Now comes the strangest part of the whole 

 process of flowering. When the bee settles on 

 the blossom, she alights on the keel and wings, to 

 which she clings by her fore-legs, and so weighs 

 down the entire lower portion of the mechanism 

 with her weight. As she does so, the clasps 



or knobs on 

 the wings come 

 undone, and the 

 whole flower 

 springs open ela- 

 stically, as you 

 see it in No. 10, 

 exposing the 

 stamens and the 

 young pod which 

 form its central 

 organs. At the 

 same moment, 



NO. p. THE FLOWER, HALF OPENED. the pOllen,which 



is specially ar- 

 ranged for this contingency, bursts forth in a little 

 explosive cloud, covering the body and legs of the 

 visiting insect. She takes no notice of this queer 

 manoeuvre on the part of the plant, being quite 

 familiar with it, but goes on helping herself to the 

 store of honey. As soon as she has rifled it all, 

 she flies away, and visits a second flower of the 

 same kind. In the act of doing so, she rubs off 

 on its sensitive surface the pollen with which the 



