'The {Mountain Laurel's Embrace 



ill-doors and placed in a vase upon our mantel. 

 Why? Because the hope of the blossom's life is 

 not fulfilled in these artificial conditions ; its nat- 

 ural counterpart, the insect, has failed to respond to 

 its summons. 



But the twilight cluster in the woods may tell us 

 a pretty story. Here a tiny moth hovers above the 

 tempting chalice, and now settles upon it with eager 



n: 



Fig. 2. 



tongue extended for the nectar at its centre. What 

 an immediate and expressive welcome ! No sooner 

 has this little feathery body touched the filaments 

 than the eager anthers are released from their 

 pockets, and, springing inward, clasp their little 

 visitor, at the same time decorating him with their 

 compliments of webby pollen. A, Fig. 2. 



73 



