The GreJt Green Orchis 



bees, butterflies, and smaller moths. What insect, 

 then, is here implied ? The sphinx-moth again, one 

 of the lesser of the group. A larger individual might 

 sip the nectar, it is true, but its longer tongue would 

 reach the base of the tube without effecting the 

 slightest contact with the pollen, which is of course 

 the desideratum here embodied, and which has ref- 

 erence to a tongue corresponding to the length of 

 the nectary. There are many of these smaller 

 sphmxes. Let us suppose one to be hovering at 

 the blossom's throat. Its slender capillary tongue 

 enters the opening. Ere it can reach the sweets, the 

 insect's head must be forced well into the throat of 

 the blossom, where we now observe a most remark- 

 able special provision, the space between the two 

 pollen disks being exactly adjusted to the diameter 

 of the insect's head. 



What follows this entrance of the moth is plainly 

 pictured in the progressive series of illustrations 

 (Fig. 2). A represents the insect sipping; the 

 sticky disks are brought in contact with the moth's 

 eyes, to which they adhere, and by which they are 

 withdrawn from their pouches as the moth departs 

 (B). At this time they are in the upright posi- 

 tion shown at C, but in a few seconds bend de- 

 terminedly downward and slightly toward each 



143 



