1 86 CONCL US ION. [CHAP. 



CYPERACEvE. 



The Cyperacese (Sedges) are a veiy numerous group containing eight 

 British genera. The flowers are minute, greenish or brownish, and 

 wind-fertilised, but are sometimes visited by insects for the sake of 

 the pollen. 



The order Gramineae (Grasses) is veiy extensive, containing more than 

 forty British genera. They are, however, wind-fertilised. 



This is the last order which I have to mention. 

 Those who have done me the honour to read so far, 

 will not need to be told that this little book is frag- 

 mentary and incomplete. For my own part, I am 

 only too sensible of it. Nevertheless, the fault is not 

 altogether mine. Our knowledge of the subject is as 

 yet in its infancy ; and indeed, my great object has 

 been to bring prominently before my readers how 

 rich a field for observation and experiment is still 

 open to us. Most elementary treatises unfortunately, 

 though perhaps unavoidably, give the impression that 

 our knowledge is far more complete and exact than 

 really is the case. This naturally tends to^discourage, 

 rather than to promote, original observations. Few, 

 I believe, of those who are not specially devoted to 

 zoology and botany have any idea how much still 

 remains to be ascertained with reference to even the 

 commonest and most abundant species. In the pre- 

 sent case, I have confined myself to the consideration 

 of Flowers in relation to Insects. The interesting 

 adaptations presented by such forms as the grasses, 



