"Blossom Hosts and Insect Guests 



In strong contrast to the gay, pollen-loaded 

 Canada lily is the pure white, sweetly scented Ber- 

 muda or Easter lily, Liliinn Harrisi. Lubbock 

 says, "There is not a hair or a hne, not a. spot or a 

 color, for which there is not a reason — which has 

 not a purpose or a meaning in the economy of 

 Nature." If this be true, what do the variations in 

 these near cousins signify ? 



The answer to our question is not far to seek. 

 The Canada lily desires the services of an insect 

 that flies by day and that is a pollen-gatherer rather 

 than a nectar-lover. Its vivid yellow tints are, 

 therefore, all sufficient, making the flower most con- 

 spicuous and suggesting the character of the reward 

 which it will bestow upon its guests in return for 

 their courteous attendance. 



The Bermuda lily, on the contrary, wishes to 

 avail itself of the kind offices of a moth which flies 

 only during the twilight hours and which is a honey- 

 tippler, caring nothing for pollen, since its eggs are 

 deposited on the plants that feed its young. This 

 lily, therefore, dons a white robe, which is more 

 easily distinguished at dusk than any color, and as a 

 further guide to its whereabouts and a hint of the 

 sweets which it has to offer, it has acquired an ex- 

 traordinary perfume. 



