Cuckoo-Pint. ''''\ . ^47 



small insect friends of less pronounced aesthetic 

 tastes ; and this is especially the case, among othei" 

 classes, with almost all waterside plants. Hence such 

 plants have usually acquired small and inconspicuous 

 separate flowers ; and then, to make up for their loss 

 in attractiveness, like cheap sweetmeats, they have 

 very largely increased their numbers. Or, to put the 

 matter more simply and physically, in waterside 

 situations those plants succeed best which have a 

 relatively large number of individually small and 

 unnoticeablc flowers, massed together into large ^nd 

 closely serried bundles. Hence, in such situations, 

 there is a tendency for petals to be suppressed, and 

 for blossoms to grow minute ; because the large and 

 bright flowers seldom succeed in attracting big land- 

 insects like bees or butterflies, while the small and 

 thick-set ones usually do succeed in attracting a great 

 many little flitting waterside midges. Examples may 

 be found in the rushes, bur-reeds, catstails, and many 

 other freshwater plants. ' 



For such a role our friend the sweet-sedge is 

 peculiarly well adapted. Its small yellowish blossoms,^ 

 though separately unnoteworthy, are rendered con-:^ 

 spicuousin the mass by their dense grouping : and its 

 extremely aromatic perfume makes it a great favourite 

 with the tiny flies and water-haunting insects, who 



