73 



the centre of each lobe to the border of tlie liml), so that 

 the effect is tliat of a tive-rayecl star on a pink ground. 

 The white star is tlie honey guide, its Avhite color being the 

 oi-iginal one and the pink more recent. The flower ))U>oms 

 in the morning twilight, long l)efore the roses, and lasts 

 but for a day. The white guide markings were produced 

 when the flower became pink, and are very appro})riate and 

 suitable for twilights. There are varieties of the flower 

 wholly white. 



Besides the crepuscular and nocturnal bloomers, there are 

 diurnal bloomers which keep open house all night. Privet 

 is visited by four or Ave "different kinds of moths and prob- 

 ably clethra by as many more ; and one of the kinds which 

 visit privet, Oenotliera, and Azalea viscoi^a^ I have seen 

 visiting the scentless purple larkspur at dusk when I could 

 scarcely distinguish the flower from the leaves ! and what is 

 of farther interest was the fact that a few white flowered 

 varieties in the clump were passed by ! Datura Tatula is 

 said to bloom towards evening (it is of a pale violet-[)urple), 

 and if so, there is no doubt but that moths would Hnd it 

 with its strong odor as readily as larkspur ! 



Apoc]/num androscmiifolium, a day bloomer, is a bell- 

 shaped flower one-third of an inch long, of the palest pink, 

 with fifteen deep rose-colored lines running straight to the 

 centre of the flower. Two different kinds of moths were 

 noticed at dusk sucking its nectar, not counting diurnal 

 insects. 



Honey guides are useful characters in distinguishing- 

 species. Of the two New England yellow-flowered species 

 of Oxah's, viz., O. striata, L., and 0. cormculata var. Dil- 

 lenii, Trelease, the latter can be distinguished at a glance 

 l)y the honey guides. They are very diminutive, consisting 

 of four or five straight pencil lines near the base of each 

 petal, forming a small circle around the centre of the flower. 



When an animal seeks a lirook or spring for water, he is 

 apt to take the shortest practicable course. If he goes and 



