Bluebeard's Methods 



With a knowl- 

 edore of the unusu- 

 al structure of the 

 milkweed blossom 

 now at our dispo- 

 sal, let us visit the 



"W\ P^^^^^ "^^^^ observe 

 clearly how its care- 

 fully planned and 

 delicately adjusted 

 members perform 

 and sometimes ex- 

 ceed the duties of 

 their office. 



A bee alights upon the flower 

 — the object of its visit being, of 

 course, the sweets located in the 

 five horn-shaped nectaries. In 

 order to reach this nectar, the insect must 

 hang to the bulky blossom. Instantly, 

 and almost of necessitv, it would seem, 

 one or more of the feet are seen to enter 

 the upper opening of the fissure, and dur- 

 ing the insect's movements are drawn through to 



103 



